Podcast appearances and mentions of richard mccoll

It's an absolute honour to welcome author Jennie Erin Smith on the Colombia Calling podcast this week to discuss her latest book in which she investigates and chronicles her six-year investigation into the phenomenon of early onset Alzheimer's in rural Colombia. Jennie speaks to Emily Hart and Richard McColl. In the 1980s, a Colombian neurologist named Francisco Lopera traveled on horseback into the mountains seeking families with symptoms of dementia. For centuries, residents of certain villages near Medellín had suffered memory loss as they reached middle age, going on to die in their fifties. Lopera discovered that a unique genetic mutation was causing their rare hereditary form of early onset Alzheimer's disease. Over the next forty years of working with the “paisa mutation” kindred, he went on to build a world-class research program in a region beset by violence and poverty. In "Valley of Forgetting," Jennie Erin Smith brings readers into the clinic, the laboratories, and the Medellín trial center where Lopera's patients receive an experimental drug to see if Alzheimer's can be averted. She chronicles the lives of people who care for sick parents, spouses, and siblings, all while struggling to keep their own dreams afloat. These Colombian families have donated hundreds of their loved ones' brains to science and subjected themselves to invasive testing to help uncover how Alzheimer's develops and whether it can be stopped. Buy the book! https://a.co/d/giumqZR  The Colombia Briefing is reported by Emily Hart: https://harte.substack.com/

Colombian energy giant Ecopetrol has polluted hundreds of sites with oil, including water sources and biodiverse wetlands, the BBC World Service has found. However, as detailed in a new documentary produced and directed by Owen Pinnell of the BBC: "Exposing the toxic record of Colombia's oil giant | BBC World Service Documentaries,:" there are far more issues involving Colombia's Ecopetrol beyond just pollution the region's water sources such as potential links to paramilitary groups. As quoted in the documentary: "Matthew Smith, an oil analyst and financial journalist based in Colombia, says he does not believe Ecopetrol managers are involved in threats by armed groups. But he says there is an "immense" overlap between former paramilitary groups and the private security sector. Private security firms often employ former members of paramilitary groups and compete for lucrative contracts to protect oil facilities, he says.   Whistleblower and former employee of Ecopetrol, Mr Olarte shared internal Ecopetrol emails (now named "The Iguana Papers") showing that in 2018, the company paid a total of $65m to more than 2,800 private security companies. "There is always that risk of some sort of contagion between the private security companies, the types of people they employ, and their desire to continually maintain their contract," Mr Smith says. He says this could potentially even include kidnapping or murdering community leaders or environmental defenders in order to "ensure that Ecopetrol's operations proceed smoothly". And so, journalists Emily Hart and Richard McColl of the Colombia Calling podcast, have the fantastic opportunity to discuss what it meant to film this documentary, meet the courageous people who were and are willing to speak out about some of the crimes being committed in the region of Barrancabermeja, Santander and how the whole area is being affected by this. BBC Article: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crewlj11jljo Tune in and see the documentary here: https://youtu.be/Grp3YRhSf2o This is a truly incredible episode of the Colombia Calling podcast, please be sure to share, like and spread the word. And as always, tune in to the Colombia Briefing, reported by Emily Hart. 

Barry Max Wills, author of: "Better than Cocaine: Learning to Grow Coffee, and Live in Colombia," and Richard McColl of: "The Mompos Project: A Tale of Love, Hotels and Madness in Colombia," join editor Dan Cross on this week's Colombia Calling podcast. In a conversation that takes in the topics of culture and identity, immigrants to Colombia, writing about their adopted homeland, their books and the editing process, the triumvirate chats about the recent launch party and conversation event at Bookworm bookshop in Bogota.  Enjoy this fun conversation! The Colombia Briefing is reported by Emily Hart, check out her substack: https://substack.com/@ehart And buy the books please: The Mompos Project: https://a.co/d/49iOsiz  Better than Cocaine: https://a.co/d/7gAtzyR 

Richard McCollColombia Jack of All Trades!Colombia Calling PodcastRichard is a long-time freelance foreign correspondent based in Colombia, host of the Colombia Calling podcast and the LatinNews podcast, author of Colombia at a Crossroads and owner of two small guesthouses in Mompos...in addition to being a husband to Alba and father to two small boys.summaryIn this episode, Jason Elkins speaks with Richard McColl, a passionate advocate for Colombia and host of the Colombia Calling podcast. They explore Richard's journey from England to Colombia, discussing the cultural influences that shaped his love for Latin America. The conversation delves into the differences in travel perspectives between Europeans and Americans, the impact of language on travel experiences, and the evolving reputation of Colombia. Richard shares insights from his career in journalism and the importance of storytelling in understanding the complexities of Colombian society. The episode concludes with a discussion about the Colombia Calling podcast and Richard's ongoing projects in the region.takeawaysRichard McColl's journey to Colombia began during his university years.Cultural influences from his family shaped Richard's love for Latin America.Travel perspectives differ significantly between Europeans and Americans.Language plays a crucial role in enhancing travel experiences.Colombia's reputation has improved significantly over the years.Curiosity drives many travelers to explore new cultures.Richard's career in journalism has been intertwined with his love for Colombia.The Colombia Calling podcast serves as a platform for diverse conversations about Colombia.Richard emphasizes the importance of understanding both the good and bad aspects of Colombia.Engaging with locals enhances the travel experience and fosters deeper connections. Learn more about Big World Made Small Adventure Travel Marketing and join our private community to get episode updates, special access to our guests, and exclusive adventure travel offers at bigworldmadesmall.com.

Jonathan Swift, "Falsehood flies, and truth comes limping after it.” … never truer than in 2025 This week on the Colombia Calling podcast Emily Hart and Richard McColl tackle the issue of disinformation and fact-checking in Colombia and fortunately, we don't have to take on this task alone but are joined by two experts in the field. Laura Sarabia Rangel is the Editor of El Detector de Mentiras at La Silla Vacia and Jose Felipe Sarmiento joins us from ColombiaCheck and we get to pick their brains about the need for fact-checking, disinformation in Colombia and how one undertakes the process of finding the truth.  There have been so many circumstances where people and politicians have been saying things that are simply untrue, in Colombia specifically, about the health reform, the stigmatisation of indigenous communities or the denialism of the False Positives, to name a few.  So, we get to hear how Laura and Jose Felipe work, put some rumours and untruths to bed and discuss what readers and consumers can do to make sure they're consuming high quality media.  The Colombia Briefing is reported by Emily Hart. 

Stephen Drill talks to Richard McColl about living and working at the centre of the global cocaine trade. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

By all accounts, Bernardo Arévalo was not expected to win Guatemala's 2023 presidential election. The shock of his victory took the Guatemalan establishment by surprise, and his win has been described by Edgar Ortiz, an expert in constitutional law and political risk in Guatemala, and our guest this week, as "a glitch in the matrix."In his efforts to address Guatemala's widespread institutional corruption, rampant extortion, and poverty reduction, Arévalo has faced stiff resistance from the Pacto de Corruptos and Consuelo Porras, the current Attorney General. Arévalo recognises the need to modernise and democratise the Guatemalan state, but with only 23 out of 160 seats in Congress, Ortiz argues that the president's democratic approach may be too idealistic. Simply acting democratically, Ortiz warns, will not bring about change in the face of an abusively legalistic regime determined to maintain the status quo.Follow LatinNews for analysis on economic, political, and security developments in Latin America & the Caribbean. Twitter: @latinnewslondon LinkedIn: Latin American Newsletters Facebook: @latinnews1967 For more insightful, expert-led analysis on Latin America's political and economic landscape, read our reports for free with a 14-day trial. Get full access to our entire portfolio.

Stephen Drill talks to journalist Richard McColl about living and working at the centre of the global cocaine trade.   Follow so you never miss an episode. To listen ad-free subscribe to Crime X+ To find out more visit cocaineinc.com.au  Get in touch: cocaineinc@thetimes.co.uk  Visit us on socials: Crime X+: Instagram, TikTok and Facebook The Times: Instagram, TikTok and FacebookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On The LatinNews Podcast this week, we look at what is being done to resolve the long standing conflict between the Chilean government and the Mapuche indigenous people, inhabitants of parts of south-central Chile, who have suffered from a policy of "pacification" which resulted in a tragic history of exterminations and displacement.  Tracing its roots back to the time of Chile's independence from Spain in 1810, the Mapuche conflict has evolved over time and there is now an increase in violent acts as militant Mapuche groups seek greater recognition and rights to ancestral lands.  The magnitude of the challenge is not lost on President Boric who launched a commission in 2023 to find a solution. So, how can Chile address this long standing historical debt to the Mapuche?  Joining us on the podcast is Dr Pablo Policzer, Associate Professor of Political Science and former director of the Latin American Research Centre at the University of Calgary in Canada who provides us with contexts from the very beginning of the conflict to the current day. 

Richard McColl is a British Canadian journalist, podcaster and hotel owner based in Bogotá and Mompós, Colombia. I've known Richard for at least a decade. I first knew of him from his work as a fellow foreign correspondent covering subjects all around Latin America, writing for international publications. In 2013, we met in person when I was writing for a story about Mompós for The New York Times. It's one of my favorite stories I ever written for The Times because Mompós is such a special place. It's this stunning 500-year-old colonial city on an island in the Magdalena River that was once a major port but was then mostly forgotten as that part of the river stilted up and war cut it off from society. It's a strange, kind of mystical place with so much history and so many stories and quirky characters. It's a place that was a big inspiration for Gabriel Garcia Marquez, the Nobel Prize winning author and you can feel the imagery from his books everywhere there. Richard's wife has family there and he was enchanted by it and ended up buying two of these colonial houses, which he turned into small hotels, La Casa Amarilla and San Rafael. We talk a lot about Mompós and its ghosts and how it's much easier to reach than when I went there and had to take a 10-hour ride in a truck from Cartagena.While I was in Mompós he asked me if I wanted to be on a podcast he just launched, called Colombia Calling, where he interviews all kinds of subjects about Colombia, in English. This was in 2013, and it was probably one of the original podcasts anywhere in Latin America, and honestly, I hadn't even listened to a podcast at that time. It's still going and has now recorded more than 500 episodes. Juli was on a recent episode and they talk a lot about Colombian food and it's a great listen.Richard also runs the Latin News Podcast and he recently started a small publishing company. They are books in English, about Colombia, and includes titles such as Better than Cocaine: Learning to grow coffee, and live, in Colombia, by the writer Barry Max Wills, and Richard has two books forthcoming, a general guide to politics, history and culture called Colombia at a Crossroads, and The Mompós Project, about his life in that incredible place and the stories he has gathered and witnessed. Anyway, it was great to catch up with Richard after all these years.

Richard McColl is a freelance journalist in Colombia and the host of Colombia Calling podcast. He also owns a few hotels in Colombia. He's been based in Colombia for a long time and has great stories from the old days.

This week your host, Richard McColl moves over to the role of interviewee as friend and fellow immigrant to Colombia, Eric Tabone switches up responsibilities and fires questions at your friendly Briton. This is your chance to learn a little bit more about journalist, hotelier and writer Richard McColl. Tabone leaves no stone unturned as he delves into McColl's tall tales from the past, all of them true. Tropical illnesses in Brazil, how he arrived in Colombia, scrapes in the Rio favela of Mangueira, writing experience, how did he become a hotelier, why and how did he come to start publishing books? It's all here and more. Thank you to Eric Tabone for his time and line of questioning. The Colombia Briefing is reported by Emily Hart. Feel free to support the Colombia Calling podcast www.patreon.com/colombiacalling

It has become clear that the kind of coverage we can now expect from the mainstream media regarding protests is one which serves to highlight protestors' violence, weaken support for the strike and delegitimise grassroots perspectives because, even when ordinary citizens are given a voice, they will unlikely openly criticise their government. This is the "protest paradigm." It is all too common to find an overwhelming number of quotes in a report or article from government officials and the like, and a lack of perspectives explaining the root cause of the protests. So, this week, Richard McColl of Colombia Calling teams up with Adriaan Alsema of Colombia Reports in Medellin and Joshua Collins of Pirate Wire Services to discuss this phenomenon in the press and media world, citing concrete examples from the 2019 and 2021 Paro Nacional in Colombia and making comparisons with what is being seen during the protests at US universities such as Columbia in NY at this present moment. The Colombia Briefing is reported by Emily Hart.

On The LatinNews Podcast this week, we ask Dr Jacqueline Jimenez Polanco, Associate Professor of Sociology at the Bronx Community College of the City University of New York, to what can we attribute the success of the anti-corruption and anti-impunity politics in the Dominican Republic?  With elections on the horizon for May 2024, will the victor continue in the same vein of combating official corruption, addressing tensions with Haiti and protecting the country's all-important tourism revenue? We explore these topics and the historical background to current politics in the Dominican Republic.  Dr Jimenez Polanco is the author of numerous books and articles including, "Dominican Politics in the 21st Century: Continuity and Change," "Divagaciones II, An Anthology by Dominican Lesbian, Bisexual and Queer Women," and the forthcoming, "Dominican American Politics: Immigrants, Activists and Politicians." 

On The LatinNews Podcast this week, we speak to Martin Weinstein, Emeritus Professor of Political Science at William Paterson University in New Jersey and author of dozens of books on Uruguay, his opinions on the upcoming presidential elections in Uruguay in October 2024.  Uruguay is unlikely to lose its reputation as the "Switzerland of Latin America," however there are challenges ahead for the successful candidate in the elections, be they from the leftist Frente Amplio or right-of-centre Partido Nacional. These include the issues of security and narco-trafficking, continued tensions with Mercosur and an urgent need to reform the primary and secondary education systems.  Tune in for this far-reaching conversation on the LatinNews podcast. 

The post-war era of growth has been replaced by a much more uncertain, nationalistic and dangerous world and nowhere is this more evident when it comes to the current trend of repositioning in the global supply chain network which therefore directly affects Panama and the Panama Canal.  On The LatinNews Podcast this week, we ask Andrew Thomas PhD, Professor of International Business at the College of Business at the University of Akron and author of "The Canal of Panama and Globalization: Growth and Challenges in the 21st Century," can Panama effectively respond to issues such as climate change and extended drought, supply chain security, population growth and global events such as the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East?

On The LatinNews Podcast this week, we look at the regime of President Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua and discuss his likely successor and how the country arrived at this aggravated stage of repression.  Dr Manuel Orozco, a Nicaraguan political scientist at the Inter American Dialogue, joins us to discuss how the regime has further dismantled democratic institutions and pursued a policy of systemic repression in behaviour akin to that of a "Tropical Taliban."  In recent years more than 12 per cent of Nicaragua's population has left the country, nine out of ten citizens are in opposition to the regime, yet the culture of fear pervades. We ask for how long Ortega can hold on to power, how he manages to do so and who is the likely successor? 

Weaponizing social media with his own brand of populist authoritarianism, promoting cryptocurrency and imprisoning 70 thousand of his countrymen in order to pacify El Salvador's gang warfare, we ask, who is the real Nayib Bukele?  Manuel Melendez-Sanchez, a PhD candidate in political science at Harvard University, joins us on the LatinNews podcast to discuss, not only Bukele's security policy - admired by some and abhorred by others - , but also his economic policy and concentration of power in El Salvador.  Is El Salvador really the safest country in Latin America as President Bukele often claims?

On The LatinNews Podcast this week, we look at what could go wrong with the administration of Guyana's oil wealth and whether such a tremendous windfall will be used to transform the economic and political landscape in the country.  Incredibly, Guyana is set to quadruple its GDP by 2025, the same year as the next elections, so will the estimated 40 per cent of the population that lives in poverty see anything of this income?  Anand Persaud, the Editor in Chief of the Starbroek News in Georgetown, Guyana discusses the possibilities, from a concentration of political power, corruption, the Dutch disease and ethnic polarization and how all of these issues come into play.

Debates on spiraling violence and the future of extractive industries dominate Ecuador's elections. On The LatinNews Podcast this week, we ask Carmen Martínez Novo, Professor at the University of Florida's Center for Latin American Studies: where do Ecuador's presidential candidates stand on the issue of extractive industries and national security?  Bringing an expertise in indigenous rights and politics in Ecuador, Martínez Novo discusses the current spiral of violence in this electoral cycle in the country, the powerful and influential indigenous role in elections and the priorities of both presidential hopefuls, Luisa González and Daniel Noboa.  Will the "correista" candidate González pursue an aggressive pro-extractives policy, or will the outwardly business-minded Noboa combine a pro-extractives policy with pragmatic environmentalism, and how will either address Ecuador's rapidly deteriorating security situation?

One thing is winning a presidential election and another is actually governing. President Gustavo Petro's approval ratings continue to fall, his coalition no longer has a majority, there are local elections ahead in Colombia in October and things do not look good.  This week on The LatinNews Podcast, we ask Jenny Pearce, Research Professor at the Latin America and Caribbean Centre at the London School of Economics, how can President Petro face up to the barrage of challenges hurled at him by a strengthening opposition and at the same time commit to his "government of change" in the coming three years of his presidency?   Show Notes: • Gustavo Petro's background • Fighting drug-related criminal gangs • Corruption allegations • Where to from here for Colombia?   Jenny Pearce is a political scientist who specialises in Latin America. She works with anthropological and participatory research methodologies on social change, violence, security, power and participation in the region and beyond. She considers herself a peace scholar, committed to theoretical development of the field of peace, power and violence as well as empirical study. She has conducted fieldwork since the 1970s in Uruguay, El Salvador, Guatemala, Colombia, Mexico, Chile, Brazil, and Venezuela. Professor Pearce has also developed a body of work around participation and exclusion in the global North, bringing learning from Latin America (South North learning) to the realities of urban conflict and tensions in the de-industrialised north of England.

Reading an extract from his forthcoming work of non-fiction: The Mompós Project, A Tale of Love and Hotels in Colombia, journalist Richard McColl discusses the issue of witchcraft in this corner of rural Colombia. Having set up a successful business in the town of Mompós - a town that inspired much of the writing of Gabriel García Márquez - he incurred the wrath and envy of a handful of townspeople. The book with be available in all the usual places from November 2024 but stay informed at www.fullervigil.com Richard McColl has worked as a journalist in Colombia since 2007 and is the host of the Colombia Calling podcast and the LatinNews Podcast. The Colombia News Brief is reported by journalist Emily Hart. www.colombiacalling.co www.patreon.com/colombiacalling

This episode features an interview with Richard McColl, Vice President of People Technology at Walmart. Richard applies Human Centric Design, Design Thinking, AI, and Technology to the associate experience at Walmart. Prior to joining Walmart, Richard served IBM for over 18 years, having held several leadership roles including Vice President and Senior Partner, Talent Technology Practice Leader. And on this episode, Richard is discussing the ins and outs of Walmart's Superapp, applying design thinking to the employee journey, and crafting one seamless digital experience that can do everything from inform employees about their credit score to support their mental wellbeing.Quotes*”Our associates shouldn't need to know all of the different business platforms that we use to support them. What they should do is enjoy an end-to-end experience that stays with them and is frictionless.”*“As we think about superapps at Walmart, we don't just think about people experiences as a standalone container. We also think about people experiences and how they're embedded with all of the capabilities that that persona will need to be effective.”*“We've had many different benefits programs available to associates. And we pride ourselves on that. But if you have those across a number of different systems, you're putting a friction point of discoverability, navigation and different experiences and logins. All of those things create the potential of lower adoption.”*“When we haven't used design thinking from an end to end approach to implement a tool that's part of a process and not an experience, we've missed the mark.”Time Stamps[2:41] Flight Plan: Get to know Walmart and the intricacies of leading People Technology there[5:54] First Class: What are Richard's best practices for fostering a great digital employee experience at Walmart?[8:38] What's a superapp?[13:45] How is Walmart incorporating educational experiences into the digital employee experience?[17:25] Turbulence: What can we learn from the bumpy employee experiences?[25:56] Smooth Landing: What advice would Richard give other employee experience leaders?LinksConnect with Richard on LinkedInLearn more about WalmartThanks to our friendsThis episode is brought to you by Firstup, the company that is redefining the digital employee experience to put people first and lift companies up by connecting every worker, everywhere with the information that helps them do their best work. Firstup has helped over 40% of the Fortune 100 companies like Amazon, AB InBev, Ford and Pfizer stay agile and keep transforming. Learn more at firstup.io

On Episode 6 of The LatinNews Podcast, Pamela K Starr, Professor of International Relations at USC, Los Angeles, joins us to discuss President Lopez Obrador's legacy in Mexico. We look at the defining features of his tenure, the increase in the role of the military, resource nationalism, political polarization, threats to journalists and an assault on autonomous institutions such as the electoral authority. Additionally, we discuss Lopez Obrador's chosen successor for the 2024 elections: Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo.    Show Notes: • The Morena Party • Lopez Obrador's most likely successor • Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) • The Fourth Transformation   Pamela Starr is a professor of the practice of international relations and public diplomacy, a senior advisor at Monarch Global Strategies, and a global fellow at the Mexico Institute of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Prior to USC, Starr was the senior analyst responsible for Mexico at the Eurasia Group, one of the world's leading global political risk advisory and consulting firms, and a professor at the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM) in Mexico City. Starr has briefed American and Mexican officials on the bilateral relationship, including former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Mexican Foreign Minister Jose Antonio Meade, as well as ambassadors, diplomats, intelligence officials, legislators, and staffers from both countries. She has testified before the U.S. Congress and is an active speaker and author. Starr has been quoted in over 50 newspapers, news magazines, and wire services in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Europe, and Asia including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and the Financial Times. She has opinion articles in over a dozen outlets.

The Colombia Calling podcast has reached its 10 year mark 2013-2023, and it's time to celebrate. So, with that in mind, journalist Emily Hart, takes over and interviews host Richard McColl. There is banter, there are questions from listeners and there's wine too! Emily expertly guides the conversation through the highs and lows of the podcast during these first ten years, memorable and not so memorable episodes, lessons learned and the evolution of Colombia Calling. Thank you to everyone for your support and for listening, it has been a great experience and as I say in this recording: "we'll keep coming back if you keep coming back." Abrazos to everyone from Colombia!

Described as "hapless and stolid but hardworking" by Dr Emily Morris, President Diaz-Canel was re-elected to his post in April 2023 as life for ordinary Cubans remains increasingly difficult. On this episode of The LatinNews Podcast, Dr Morris discusses the political and economic effects of the nation's dual currency system and its end, if there are any possibilities of meaningful political reform there on the horizon and finally, the overwhelming sense of despair being felt by the Cuban population.   Show Notes: • What is the dual-currency system? • Impact of the dual-currency on the economy • 2021 Cuban Protests • Cuban foreign policy   Dr Emily Morris is a Research Fellow at University College London's Institute of the Americas (UCLIA). For 13 years she worked for the Economist Intelligence Unit, where she was a Senior Editor/Economist covering the economies of Latin America, and in 2011 she completed her doctoral thesis on Cuban economic policy and outcomes since 1990. As well as lecturing Masters level students, she is now doing consultancy work on Cuban and Latin American economics. Dr Morris's current research includes studies of Cuban macroeconomic management and performance, climate change mitigation and transport strategies, and emerging currents in Latin American Political Economy. She is lead researcher for a collaboration project between UCL and the Cuban ministry of transport, helping to formulate an environmentally, economically and socially sustainable transport strategy for the city of Havana. Dr Morris lectures in the Political Economy of Development in Latin America, Latin American Economics, and Economic and Social Transformation in Cuba. Ten years ago she wrote an article for LatinNews, covering Cuba's dual-currency system. On the latest episode of The LatinNews Podcast she joins Richard McColl to discuss current developments in Cuba.

Andrew Nickson, Honourary Reader in Public Management and Latin American Studies at the University of Birmingham and expert in Paraguay's politics joins The LatinNews Podcast  on Episode 4 to provide an overview of the recent elections and some of the serious dilemmas facing the Colorado Party's president-elect Santiago Peña.  On the home-front, can Peña combat the rampant corruption, drug-related violence, poor education levels and increase trust in government institutions - including accusations of fraud in the recent elections? And internationally, how will his government negotiate the terms of energy sales from the Itaipu dam with Brazil, continue to recognise Taiwan, snubbing China, and move the Paraguayan embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem without angering key trade partners in the Arab world?  The outlook for one of the most unequal countries in the Americas, in terms of income and wealth, isn't positive.   Show Notes: • Overview of the elections in Paraguay • The origins of President-elect Santiago Pena • Horacio Cartes' influence in Paraguay • The re-negotiation of the Itaipu dam   Andrew Nickson has four decades' experience of teaching, research and consultancy on public administration reform, local governance, decentralization and urban water supply. He has a particular interest in Sierra Leone, Nepal and Paraguay, countries where he has had long-term work assignments. He is currently lead trainer on ‘Decentralised Governance and Peacebuilding' and ‘Acting Locally: Citizen Participation for Resilient Institutions' for the Turin-based United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC), delivered both through distance learning and face-to-face courses. He writes regularly for the Economist Intelligence Unit, Oxford Analytica and HIS Markit.

On Episode 3 of the LatinNews Podcast we take a look at Lula 3.0 in Brazil and discuss the challenges facing the president. Richard Lapper, author of "Beef, Bible and Bullets, Brazil in the Age of Bolsonaro," joins us to discuss four main talking points, Brazil's relationship with China and Russia, the economy, the political difficulties within Brazil and finally, the environment and protection of the Amazon.    Show Notes: • Brazil, China and Russia • Brazil's stance on the Ukraine invasion • Where will the economy growth come from? • Protection of the Amazon   Richard Lapper is a writer and consultant, specializing in Latin America. He has extensive experience as a journalist in the region and is a research affiliate at King's College, London. Richard is author of ‘Beef, Bullets and Bible: Brazil in The Age of Bolsonaro' published in June 2021 by Manchester University Press. He worked for the Financial Times for 25 years, occupying the post of Latin America editor between 1998 and 2008. He was a principal at FT Confidential between 2010 and 2015, an FT information service for investors. He has written and broadcast widely on Latin America and Southern Africa and spoken at a range of international conferences.

Following up from the immensely popular episode No.407 in January 2022 in which Emily Hart and Richard McColl took your questions about more or less anything Colombia-related, we thought that it was time to put together Part 2. We discuss Colombia's political climate, the upcoming presidential elections, who might win: Gustavo Petro or Federico Gutiérrez, the tourism industry, the upturn in violence - are the news reports to be trusted?, carrier bags, bilingualism and...cheese! Tune in for a great conversation about Colombia. And thank you to all those of you who sent in your questions. If you feel like it, please check out our Patreon page and consider backing the Colombia Calling podcast. https://www.patreon.com/colombiacalling

Increíble conversación sobre Inmigración, Xenofobia y Racismo en Colombia, Venezuela, Afganistán, con Richard McColl del Podcast Colombia Calling y Joshua Collins de Muros Invisibles.

Colombia Calling podcast host and South America-based foreign correspondent Richard McColl discusses the current political unrest in Colombia and why it's persisting.  Dr. Pamela Roach unpacks her Canadian Medical Association Journal article about the draft Alberta curriculum. The piece, "The Potential Health and Social Effects of Alberta's Draft K-6 Curriculum" outlines how the proposed education guide furthers racism.  Victoria, BC-based family physician Dr. Kathy Dabrus addressing misconceptions around COVID-19 vaccinations, the safety of combining vaccines and other FAQs. Plus, we start the week with Positive Reflections presented by the good folks at Kuby Energy! 12:54 - Richard McColl on Colombia unrest 52:29 - Dr. Pamela Roach on Alberta draft curriculum 1:32:50 - Vaccine FAQs with Dr. Kathy Dabrus 2:15:01 - Positive Reflections

I wanted to call Episode 360 of the Colombia Calling podcast, "the Roast of Richard McColl," but it really became, "a conversation with Alba Torres, or "How Alba manages to put up with this annoying, moody and difficult Englishman!" You asked for it folks and we have delivered, here is the long awaited episode in which Alba Torres, to whom I have the immense honour of being married, gives you the lowdown of the cultural differences, the difficulties in working together and how we ended up opening not one (www.lacasaamarillamompos.com) but two (www.sanrafaelmompox.com) hotels in Mompós, Colombia. We enjoy an open and frank conversation punctuated with some - not all - of the questions you the listeners sent in for us to answer. Thank you again to all of those of you that participated. Enjoy!

Alumnus Richard McColl (French and Spanish, 2000), is a hotelier, journalist and author based in Colombia, as well as an Exeter alumni ambassador in the country for many years. Richard shares  how the COVID-19 pandemic is effecting his businesses as well as some insights into the socio-economic impacts across the region. http://www.richardmccoll.com/ 

Episode 309 is an entertaining look at the Colombia Calling podcast as Richard McColl moves from being the host to the interviewee and Joseph Czikk takes over. Long-time listener of the Colombia Calling podcast and self-declared "Colombia Evangelist,"Joseph Czikk made a suggestion over email to me that he be permitted to record a podcast episode with him as the host talking to me and having me reflect on some of the more memorable shows over the years dating back to 2016. Now, to date I have recorded 308 episodes and some are notably better than others, some are awful and some are average. But, there's a market for all types. And so, we went for it and the result is Ep309. In order to prepare for this show, Joey requested that I might put together a list of episodes about which we could speak and here's the resulting list - the task was overwhelming and the list became very extended. So, we plunge into the task to reflect and reminisce over past episodes and I think you'll enjoy the end result.

Hablaremos sobre el Brexit con nuestro invitado Richard McColl de Colombia Calling. Hablaremos sobre la posible salida del aire de Noticias Uno el año entrante generando una ola de opiniones encontradas y polémicas por el fin de este noticiero. El circo de Iván Duque en Antioquia con toque guerrerista. Asesinato de una candidata para la alcaldía de Suárez (Cauca). ¿Plagio en sus tesis de posgrado del ministro de vivienda? Hablemos de fútbol y otros deportes.

Enfant terrible, journalist and director of the most read news website in English about Colombia, Colombia Reports, Adriaan Alsema can be an interesting character to track down and engage in conversation. Of course, you'll all be familiar with his voice and his news style given that he's been contributing the news segment for the "all new" Colombia Calling podcast style in 2019, and the results have been astonishing. Increased downloads and listeners, broader reach and indeed, more emails to me from happy fans.  So, we felt that it is time once again to have Alsema back on the show and to talk about the current goings on in Colombia. We discuss corruption, the new political movements taking place, President Duque, the issues surrounding the flight of ex FARC guerrilla Jesus Santrich and delve into a deeper theme of a potential 21st century revolution. At least, that's how Alsema sees it and he's definitely worth listening to on this front.  So tune in for an interesting look at Colombia this week with me your Colombia Calling host, Richard McColl and the Director of Colombia Reports, Adriaan Alsema.

This week represents a special show and a change for the Colombia Calling podcast where the interviewer Richard McColl - host of the podcast - is put to task and interviewed by Emma Louise Jay of Conquered by Colombia (https://www.conqueredbycolombia.com). We'll discuss Mompos, Bogotá, life in Colombia and indeed writing.  So, in the week that was absolutely terrible for Colombia, terrible news reports about our country in the New York Times, the Washington Post, AP and a german newspaper, we take a breather, and discuss something a little lighter!

Having recorded almost 270 episodes of his podcast Colombia Calling, it's not overstating it to say that Richard McColl is the English voice of Colombia.He has been the go-to man for the BBC, CNN and other prestigious international media when Colombia is the topic of conversation. When his (normally!) dulcet tones aren't on the airwaves, he's busy managing his hotel, La Casa Amarilla, in the colonial town of Mompós close to Colombia's Caribbean coast.He joins Brendan to tell us a little more about the man behind the voice, including how he confronted a witchcraft attack in Mompós aimed at putting him out of business. He's made of stern stuff is Richard!*******Con cerca de 270 episodios en su podcast "Colombia Calling", no es una exageración decir que Richard McColl es la voz inglesa de Colombia.Ha dado su erudita opinión sobre el país para la BBC, CNN y otros medios de comunicación internacionales.Cuando Richard no está trabajando como periodista, maneja su hotel, "La Casa Amarilla", ubicado en el pueblo de Mompós en la costa caribe Colombiana.En este episodio, descubrimos un poco más sobre el hombre detrás el voz, incluyendo como Richard enfrentó un ataque de la brujería en Mompós con el objetivo destruir su negocio.

So, Colombia just had the first round of their presidential elections on May 27 and the right-wing Ivan Duque won by a significant margin but not by enough to take him straight to the presidency. In second place was the former M19 guerrilla and Mayor of Bogotá, Gustavo Petro who will now face Duque on June 17 in the second round.  On this Episode 231 of Colombia Calling, your host Richard McColl will provide you with a summary of what took place and how the voting happened in the first round and what to expect for the second round and the three weeks until then. Tune in to learn more about Colombia's fascinating political spectrum.

A meeting I had with Richard McColl to discuss a blog post of mine (http://stuartoswald.com/2013/05/hitler-in-bogota.html) and some recently released CIA files regarding Hitler apparently hiding out here in Colombia. The recording was for an episode of Richard McColl's podcast Colombia Calling (http://www.richardmccoll.com/colombia-calling/). The recording is a raw capture of the show including our discussions before, between parts and at the end. You can read all the documentation mentioned in my post here http://stuartoswald.com/2013/05/hitler-in-bogota.html. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/inverted/message

I’m thrilled to have Richard McColl on the program! He’s an author, journalist, blogger, podcaster, and hotelier born in the UK but now living with his wife and young son in Bogota Colombia! Stay tuned for volcanos, forced border-side shaves, foot parasites and accounts of the stunning beauty of Colombia. Richard’s website: www.richardmccoll.com He hosts the … Continue reading "Richard McColl: Adventures in Colombia"