On this week's Colombia Calling podcast, we have the pleasure of speaking to Damon O'Neill a Londoner based in Medellin and volunteering at the Ecoparque above Comuna 13 in the city.  A former trialist for West Ham and Tottenham football clubs, O'Neill brings his football talent to the city of Medellin and trains up children from Comuna 13 in his spare time.  But, there's more to this story, the idea is not only to train children in football but also to open up the area above Comuna 13 to tourists, both domestic and international. It's a natural escape with unrivalled views over the city, there's the option of excursions on horseback and visitors are able to enjoy freshwater pools in which to swim, places to eat, play volleyball and more.  However, despite bringing more tourism and visitors to the area, high above the well-travelled route of the Comuna 13 graffiti and Hip Hop tour, the aim is also to allow tourists to learn more about the infamous history of the area, such as what went on at La Escombrera.  Check out the Ecoparque on Instagram: @ecoparque13

372: Beyond and above Medellin's Comuna 13

These are troubling times in Colombia. This episode was recorded on Sunday 9 May during the 12th day of nationwide protests in Colombia. Sergio Guzman, Director of Colombia Risk Analysis joins us to provide a total overview of what has been going on here.  Guzman is recently returned from Cali where a great deal of the unrest has been taking place. We hear about what the situation felt like in Cali and the overall ambiance there. Then, Guzman provides us with a look at the situation in Colombia in the lead in to the strikes, what has gone on during the strikes and the government of President Ivan Duque's reactions and finally, what we might expect from a period of dialogue in the future.  This is a timely and important episode and worth listening to in order to understand the malaise in Colombia, the nation's youth who feel that there is no future for them here and the overall discontent which has been simmering for some time.  Check out Colombia Risk Analysis: https://www.colombiariskanalysis.com

375: Protests in Colombia: Hear the Facts

On Episode 398 of the Colombia Calling podcast, we address a sadly overlooked topic and that of the human rights and environmental defenders in Colombia. It is a great honour to host Isabel Cristina Zuleta, praised by Amnesty International for her work with Ríos Vívos - Antioquia Movement, in defense of the territory, and of the affected communities in the area of ​​influence of the Hidroituango project, and Beto Coral, a Colombian activist in exile in the US for having named former president Alvaro Uribe as the head of the Aguilas Negras paramilitary group. Coral's father was part of the squad involved in hunting down Pablo Escobar and was later murdered by a corrupt policeman.  We hear their thoughts on the 2022 presidential elections in Colombia, how they became activists, what they campaign for and the threats on their lives.  News as always from journalist Emily Hart

398: Isabel Cristina Zuleta and Beto Coral are Activists for Colombia

In this week's episode, we have the pleasure of sitting down with Ander Agudelo, an entrepreneur from Medellín, keen on telling us about some of the realities of the city beyond the popular tourist haunts of El Poblado and Laureles. By way of Ander's online and on-site Spanish classes (Spanglish 360 Academy on facebook and Instagram), we hear about the urban regeneration of the city, much lauded in the international press, but also, the reality of being a middle to lower income resident of the city. Enjoy this frank conversation and the Colombia News Brief from journalist Emily Hart.

430: The Real Medellín

On this week's Colombia Calling, we get to talk to members of musical collectives, bullerengue groups and the Colombian disapora in London and to hear about a new folkloric music festival they have set up in Barcelona: Prende la Vela, from July 29-31 2022. "We also want to transcend the political polarization in Colombia. For us, folkloric music is not just about entertainment. This festival will not just be fun. Ancestral music unites Colombians, it is our collective root, whilst polarization has continually torn the country apart for decades if not centuries. Even if it’s for a matter of hours, or a weekend, peace in our ‘encuentro de tambores afrocolombianos por la “paz”’ means that moment of transcending bitter politics by appreciating our collective ‘oneness’ through the medium of music." Thank you to Nick, Taty, Esteban and Valeria for their time and vision. Tune in to hear more about this festival and some of the bands playing such as La Perla, Lumbalú, Akolá Tambó, the Witchas Collective and last but not least Guacamayo Tropical.

431: Colombian Bullerengue in Barcelona

On this week's Colombia Calling podcast (Ep448), we get the chance to speak to Ceasar, a 34 year-old Venezuelan webcam model based in Medellin.  We learn about the webcam industry, how he got into this business, the business model of webcams, the legality of it, fetishes and finally, the webcam industry's close relationship to organized crime in Colombia.  Ceasar provides us with a frank and detailed insight into his business and we learn about how he became successful as a webcam "content creator."

448: Confessions of a Medellin webcam model

This week on the Colombia Calling podcast we enjoy a frank and flowing conversation with author Linda Moore about her latest novel, "Five Days in Bogotá."  We talk about the book, her time in Bogotá and Colombia, what inspired the book and the charming anecdote of when she met the famed Colombian writer, Gabriel García Márquez.  Hear how Linda Moore, a "recovering gallery owner" came to write this novel and her thoughts on Colombia, Bogotá and literature.  https://lindamooreauthor.com/bio/  The Colombia Briefing is reported by Emily Hart: https://substack.com/@ehart  and please support us at: www.patreon.com/colombiacalling

521: "Five Days in Bogotá," the new book by author Linda Moore

Angela Alvarez is a natural-born storyteller, her latest venture of the podcast: "When Home is a Foreign Word" is testament to this. In fact, there's no way we can keep on topic - is there ever one? - and we enjoy a far-reaching conversation, a great deal of laughs about life and death in Colombia (the funny side), the origins of the word syphilis, identity and witchcraft.  Angela states, when we discuss what it means to be an immigrant, "humans are reliable narrators of their own existence," and then we plunge into a conversation which I count as one of my favourite in over 500 episodes broadcast on the Colombia Calling podcast.  The Colombia Briefing is reported by Emily Hart. Her Substack can be found:&nbsp;  Please consider supporting our podcast:&nbsp;&nbsp;  &nbsp;Tune in, you'll not regret it.

536: Death, Syphilis and Stories from Beyond the Grave in Colombia

On Episode 541 of the Colombia Calling podcast, and given the current COP16 in Cali, we revisit our conversation with special guest Ole Reidar Bergum - Counsellor for Climate and Forests/ Consejero de Clima y Bosque - Royal Norwegian Embassy in Bogotá, who joined us to speak in-depth and openly about the tragedy of the rampant deforestation taking place at the moment in Colombia.  We discuss the causes and results and what the Norwegian government, along with other collaborators, are trying to do to prevent an area the size of Bogotá being deforested each year.  The Colombia Briefing is reported by Emily Hart. Be sure to check out her substack:&nbsp;

541: COP16 in Cali: Looking at Deforestation in Colombia

Sometimes, it's just fun to have an agreeable conversation, and this is why I enjoyed chatting to Vivek Jayaraman.  Vivek was born in Tamil, India and in the way life takes its unusual routes has ended up living in northern Bogota and with a love of mountains - he's from the plains - and a firm desire to know and understand the regions of Cundinamarca and Boyacá, Colombia.  In his words: "Thus was born Project Boyacá and Project Cundinamarca. The idea being that I visit all the 123 and 116 municipalities atleast once.  "People associate this part of the world with drugs, violence and the remote jungles. My attempt is to try and change this perception, taking into account that Colombia is my wife's home country.  "I got fascinanted by small towns having grown up in similar places back in India. It was equally impressive to see names of the towns that can trace their origins to the indigenous culture of Muisca that dominated this region - Guachetá, Guachetá, Machetá for example - Chetá refers to farmlands. The indigenous origin is not too appreciated here I also wanted to create awareness of these.  "My wife is from Guachetá, Cundinamarca which is believed the town of the Son of Sun - Goranchacha, which she did not know before I met her.  "Eventually I want to have a repository of these travels in a website with photographs, Instagram being an easy way. I have made 100 posts each year 2022 onwards. I was this close to create a calendar last year with photos from specific regions, then it was too expensive and too late. This being, the idea of India through the eyes of India."  What a wonderful story, you'll agree.  The Colombia Briefing is reported by Emily Hart.

553: From the Indian Plains to the Andes Mountains

This week on the Colombia Calling podcast, we speak to Lorena Estupiñán-Pedraza, a professor of international relations and political science from Boyaca, but resident in the southern city of Cali.  In a far-ranging conversation, we discuss Lorena's PhD studies public policy implementation in Boyaca, local problems with global impacts and all about what it means to be from Boyaca and to understand the Boyacense idiosyncrasy and culture.  Tune in to this, the Colombia Briefing with Emily Hart and subscribe to the podcast.

556: The Colombia that is Silenced

On this week's Colombia Calling podcast, we speak to James Bargent, an investigative journalist for Insight Crime about his work putting together the new podcast: "the Shadow of El Dorado."  Along with his colleague Mat Charles, the resulting podcast is a multi-year project which takes the listener into the world of organized crime and how the Gaitanista (Clan del Golfo or AGC) criminal organisation controls the mining economy and its subsidiary interests in the town of Segovia, Antioquia.  Their search for Colombia’s blood gold takes us to Segovia and the illegal mines at the very beginning of the global supply chain.  But what they find there is a strange mirror world, where conventional narratives fall apart, and the names and labels they try to apply do not make sense.  &nbsp;Tune in to the podcast:&nbsp;   The Colombia Briefing is reported by Emily Hart.&nbsp;

559: Blood Gold in Colombia

This week we speak to Camila Gonzalez Rosas, Director and Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at Los Andes University in Bogotá and Researcher at the the Centre for Investigations into Microbiology and tropical parasitology and we discuss tropical diseases in Colombia.  Nothing is off the table from chagas, malaria, dengue, leishmaniasis, zika, chikungunya and Covid-19....we cover it all.  What are the possibilities of another Zika outbreak? What are the consequences of the loss of biodiversity and climate change in Colombia? We also talk about zoonotic transmission where an infectious disease is transmitted between species from animals to humans (or from humans to animals)  The Colombia Briefing is reported by Emily Hart. Subscribe to her Substack here:&nbsp;  Please consider supporting us on&nbsp; &nbsp;

563: Tropical Diseases and Disease Ecology in Colombia

What explains selective violence against social and community leaders in the aftermath of war? Why does the killing of community and social leaders continue unabated in Colombia?&nbsp;  This week on the Colombia Calling podcast, we look at a new academic article entitled: "Delegative peacebuilding: Explaining post-conflict selective violence," written by Dr Sally Sharif and Dr Francy&nbsp;Carranza-Franco which explains so much regarding the on-going conflict in Colombia, the issue of "partial peace, who is doing the killing and why and hear some possible solutions.&nbsp;  Joining us is Dr Sally Sharif, School for International Studies, Simon Fraser University and Department of Political Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada and incoming assistant professor of comparative politics at Holy Cross University, Boston.&nbsp;  The Colombia Briefing is reported by Grace Brennan.&nbsp;  Support us:&nbsp;

566: Peacebuilding Cannot Happen Without Security: Why the Killings of Social Leaders in Colombia Continues

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!&nbsp;&nbsp;  The Colombia Briefing is reported by Emily Hart:&nbsp;

567: Early Onset Alzheimer's Investigated and Revealed in Colombia

La Escombrera, a vast rubble pile overlooking Medellín, is considered to be Colombia’s largest urban mass grave. Its excavation this year has unearthed the remains of people whose families have been searching for them for decades.&nbsp; Earlier this month, it was announced that the excavation there is being expanded. Some hope that what is found in that rubble will answer deeper questions - about how the conflict unfolded here in the city, and how the state was complicit in murders and human rights violations committed by paramilitary groups. This week, Emily Hart, journalist and Colombia Calling host, takes us through an article she wrote on her Substack about La Escombrera,&nbsp;the dynamics and history of Colombia's civil conflict, and about how this war - largely characterised by rural conflict and guerrilla tactics - ended up radically changing the face of Colombia’s cities. Sign up and subscribe to Emily's Substack:&nbsp; And don't miss, the Colombia Briefing reported by Emily as well.&nbsp;

569: When Conflict Came to Town: the Urbanisation of the Colombian Civil War

Few figures in Latin American politics polarize opinion like Colombia’s former president, Álvaro Uribe. Right now,&nbsp;Uribe, Colombia’s president from 2002 to 2010, faces charges of bribery, procedural fraud, and bribery in a judicial proceeding. Prosecutors must determine whether he instigated others to manipulate witness testimony in an attempt to mislead the judiciary for his benefit.  &nbsp;  So, along with Adriaan Alsema, director of Colombia Reports, we take a deep dive into the "early years" from Uribe's birth in Salgar, Antioquia and up until his campaign to become governor&nbsp;of the department, taking in his education, his role on the Medellin city council, director&nbsp;of Aerocivil, Mayor of Medellin and many family connections.&nbsp;  &nbsp;  Allegations of ties to drug cartels and paramilitaries have dogged him since the early 1980s, when the civil aviation agency he then led was accused of giving air licenses to drug traffickers. Declassified State Department cables from a decade later show U.S. officials were told the up-and-coming politician had ties to cartels.  &nbsp;  In future episodes we will look at further details surrounding Colombia's most powerful political force.&nbsp;  &nbsp;  The Colombia Briefing is reported by Emily Hart.&nbsp;

572: Álvaro Uribe: The Early Years and Rise to Power, 1952-1994

This conversation on the Colombia Calling podcast delves into the complexities of the Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal organization that has evolved significantly over the years. Chris Dalby, an expert on organized crime, discusses the origins of the gang, its relationship with the Venezuelan government, and how it has adapted to the migration crisis. The conversation also addresses misconceptions about Tren de Aragua in the U.S., particularly regarding its alleged connections to terrorism and its impact on Venezuelan migrants. Dalby emphasizes the need for a nuanced understanding of the gang's operations and the socio-political context in which it operates. &nbsp; Tune in to this and the Colombia Briefing with Emily Hart.&nbsp;

575:  The Rise of the Tren de Aragua: A Deep Dive

This week, Emily Hart speaks to Abby Reyes – human rights lawyer, environmental activist and author, as well as Director of Community Resilience Projects at the University of California.&nbsp;&nbsp;  &nbsp;&nbsp; Abby was inextricably drawn into Colombian history in 1999 by the murder of her partner, Terence Freitas. Terence was kidnapped and killed by the FARC guerrilla, alongside two other indigenous rights activists - killings which sent shockwaves through political and activist circles both here and in the United States.&nbsp; The three had been&nbsp;working with the U’wa indigenous community in the northeast of the country, where Occidental Petroleum - a US-based corporation - was threatening to start operations in ancestral U’wa territory. In the years following, as well as grappling with grief, Abby joined in activism with the U’wa from the United States, facing Occidental on Capitol Hill: she later even testified as an accredited victim at the Colombian peace tribunal, the JEP.&nbsp; &nbsp; The dense interweaving of the personal, political, and historical, make for a moving and unique set of experiences which Abby narrates in her extraordinary new book:&nbsp;‘Truth Demands: A Memoir of Murder, Oil Wars, and the Rise of Climate Justice.’  &nbsp; The Colombia Briefing will be subscriber only this week – so those of you who have already signed up will be getting it through WhatsApp and email as usual - but if you’re missing your hit of news and want to be sure you never skip an update, you can head to the Colombia Calling Patreon or to Emily's Substack –&nbsp;.  &nbsp; --   Check out&nbsp;the longest-running English-language podcast about Colombia.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Richard McColl's latest book  &nbsp;  Richard McColl's book on Colombian history and politics    &nbsp;   &nbsp;

580: Truth Demands: Murder, Oil Wars, and Climate Justice

This week, Emily Hart speaks to&nbsp;Lucas Marin Llanes - the director of development at the Latin&nbsp;American&nbsp;Drug Studies Network, and a research affiliate at the Andes University’s Center for Security and Drugs Studies (CESED). &nbsp; There are already some allowances for personal and medicinal use, but last month, Lucas and CESED proposed a whole new framework for legalised commercialisation.&nbsp; &nbsp; The first question is of course, why do it? Lucas proposes that regulation (done right) might be a way to take power from Colombia’s armed groups, and to ensure decent working conditions for rural farmers; it could also ensure the quality and content of the cannabis people are consuming – as well as contributing to a realistic public health policy on the issue.&nbsp; &nbsp; But is it too soon for Colombia – are the security guarantees in place to avoid retaliation against those who want to join legal markets? Is the market built to ensure social justice outcomes - and inclusion for those who have long been a part of the chain of production? And - crucially - is&nbsp;there the political consensus to drive the policy through?&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; And, somewhat paradoxically, is it too late? Has President Gustavo Petro’s government – despite radical work at international bodies – fumbled the project, leaving no time in the remaining year of his mandate to make real change in the country? &nbsp; So how might it be done? And what are the stakes? We’ll be getting into all of it in today's&nbsp;episode. &nbsp; And since Emily Hart is hosting the podcast again – the Colombia Briefing will be subscriber only this week – if you want to make sure you never miss an update, you can head to&nbsp;&nbsp;and sign up to get the news as text and audio every Monday.

581: Cultivating Justice? How cannabis regulation might transform Colombia

In this episode of the Colombia&nbsp;Calling podcast, Richard McColl and Emily Hart engage with Professor Nicolas Forsans of the University of Essex, a Latin America specialist, to discuss the multifaceted issues facing Latin American cities, including violence, inequality, urbanization, and gentrification.&nbsp; &nbsp; Together, they explore the historical context of these challenges, the role of grassroots communities, and the pervasive issue of extortion. The conversation also delves into the dynamics of organized crime, the impact of gentrification, and potential solutions to these pressing problems, emphasizing the need for economic growth and stronger state institutions. &nbsp; Check out Nicolas Forsans' substack:&nbsp; and The Colombia Briefing with Emily Hart:&nbsp;

582: Neo-Liberalism in Downward Dog - Gentrification, Inequality, and Crime in Colombia's Cities

Following fast in the footsteps of Episode 1:  Adriaan Alsema of  and myself have now completed Episode 2 for you of this series entitled: "The Hidden History of Alvaro Uribe," part 2. &nbsp; All Colombia-watchers are well aware of the polarising nature of the former two-time president and so Alsema and I have been putting together this series, citing documentation that is all in the public domain as so many of the actual facts are lost in the incessant noise surrounding Uribe.  As events have been moving fast surrounding Uribe and his sentencing last month, Alsema and myself also put out an "explainer episode" which can also be accessed here on .&nbsp; The Colombia Briefing is reported by Emily Hart. Please subscribe to her Substack:&nbsp;

583: The Hidden History of Alvaro Uribe, part 2

Cartagena is the eternal city of Colombian tourism. The Old City, the UNESCO World Heritage ramparts and colonial streets are protected from the ills befalling contemporary Colombia and so, this picturesque and sophisticated destination, with direct international flights from Europe and the United States, is frequently adorning the covers of glossy travel magazines. However, there is more to Cartagena, beyond the chic rooftop bars, the colonial architecture and the incredible restaurants. Travel is different now visitors demand authenticity and experiential options. And, this is where Nina Schlieper of Alternate Travel Cartagena and Bruce McLean of BNB Colombia Tours come in. Working with the local communities and within the area of La Boquilla - a small fishing village outside of Cartagena - Nina's agency works to empower women, teach the heritage and history of the region and generate income and employment in this part of the Caribbean coast. Tune in to this excellent and upbeat episode of the Colombia Calling podcast.   &nbsp; The Colombia Briefing is reported by Emily Hart.

584: Authentic Cartagena

This week, Colombia’s special peace tribunal, the JEP, handed down its first sentences to the soldiers who murdered and framed civilians to boost military statistics – killings which came to be known as the ‘false positives.’ &nbsp; The court has ordered those who committed atrocities to work on community projects, to build works in the territories where they left scars, and to face the communities whose rights they violated, as agreed in the 2016 Peace Accord. I’ll be explaining the ruling in this week’s Colombia Briefing along with this week’s other headlines. &nbsp; To mark this historic ruling, this week’s episode will be an extended and updated audio version of Emily Hart's investigation into those war crimes and the families still seeking justice – an article first published in DG Magazine - read by the author herself. &nbsp; During Colombia’s civil conflict, the army murdered thousands of civilians - framing them as guerrillas and criminals to boost statistics. In exchange for ‘combat kills,’ soldiers received cash, holidays, and promotions. The official number is 6,402 – though many estimate that the real number is closer to 10,000.  &nbsp;

858: 'A truth which cried out loud' - the families still seeking justice for the 'false positives' murders

Having spent several years in direct contact with the Comunidad de Paz in San Jose de Apartado (a very isolated yet violence-afflicted community) in northern Colombia, academic Gwen Burnyeat teamed up with Pablo Mejia Trujillo to make a documentary about the people, their suffering and now a feeling of hope for the future due to their organic fair trade cacao production. (see the trailer at http://chocolatedepaz.com)  The documentary spans 55 mins during which, the viewer is transported to what should be a pastoral life of farming and family in fertile and promising lands, yet, it is here and not unique in Colombia, that the communities have faced massacres, threats and displacement due to the strategic location of their land and becoming sandwiched between the Armed Forces, left-wing Guerrilla groups and the right-wing paramilitaries.  But, while the tales are harrowing and unthinkable, there is hope. Burnyeat and Mejia have produced a documentary that is accessible to all, not just experts on Colombia and we are presented with positive outcomes from the community's struggles.  Please watch this documentary, spread the word and share this film as these are real events which have taken place and in some circumstances continue to take place in Colombia.

141: Chocolate of Peace with Gwen Burnyeat

Simon was born in Bogota, Colombia and was raised in Detroit, Michigan. He's been working in the International Education/Meaningful Travel field for over 10 years. After graduating from the University of Montana with a degree in Rural and Environmental Sociology, he found himself volunteering internationally in Trujillo, Peru. He credits this experience as the springboard into the world of International Education and Meaningful Travel.  And now he's back in Colombia tracing his heritage (more about that during the show) and setting up a program so as to bring US students down to this country. Tune in to hear about Simon's life, his plans and support him in this quest to bring meaningful travel to Colombia.  www.simonwinograd.com

142: Meaningful Travel in Colombia with Simon Winograd

Jorn Ludvigsen and his wife Nohra Peña are on a mission to bring luxury and top-notch service to the Colombia Coffee region, leading by example from their exclusive boutique hotel El Lugar (http://hotellugar.com) just outside the city of Pereira. 

We'll chat about the hotel and restaurant business in Colombia, what the Coffee Region has to offer and why Dane Jorn decided to move with his Colombian wife Nohra to this area and set up El Lugar. 

Amidst an interview of anecdotes and frank tales of Colombian and international tourists, Jorn provides us with insightful opinions into the business, his 10 year plan and how he sees Colombia developing touristically in the future.

Colombia Calling

151: Luxury in the Colombian Coffee Region with Jorn Ludvigsen of El Lugar Boutique Hotel

This week we sit down with a good friend of mine from the UK who is also another veteran of 10 years here in Colombia and we discuss, from her perspective, the dating scene in this country we call home.  Perhaps you are heading over to Colombia for a holiday or to work, you'd do well to listen to Episode 173 and hear about some of the experiences encountered by one lady and her adventures in the dating arena. At the very least, the stories told may well prepare you for what may be in your future!  So, strap yourself in for a rollercoaster ride of anecdotes, tall tinder tales, cultural nuances and hear all about the experiences of one foreigner here in Colombia in the turbulent waters which make up the dating game!

173: The "Dating in Colombia" Episode!

I came across this curious page called www.fairtradecoke.org on twitter recently and decided to follow it up and talk to the author for Ep244 of the Colombia Calling podcast. It was a great pleasure to talk to Dutch Anthropologist Janneke Nijmeijer in Amsterdam about her project and foundation.&nbsp;  For those unaware, Coca grows at an altitude between 500 and 2000 metres, and the Andes mountains of Bolivia, Peru and Colombia offer the perfect climate for cultivating coca. Centuries before cocaine was being discovered, indigenous people across South America consumed coca. The cultivation and consumption has been of cultural and social value, and therefore an important of their economy.&nbsp;  Besides the social and economic importance, coca was also used as a medicine. Coca is a mild stimulant that fights altitude sickness, enhances concentration and is very nutritious, among other things. Because of its medicinal and nutritional qualities indigenous people considered coca to be sacred: la hoja sagrada.&nbsp;  So, tune in to hear more!

244: What is Fair Trade Coke? We Talk to Dutch Anthropologist Janneke Nijmeijer

For those of you who have been listening to the Colombia Calling podcast for a while, Reno transplant to Colombia's coffee region, Erin Donaldson will be well-known to you already since she has graced this show and shared with us incredible stories from Pereira and the Choco. Now, she is located in Manizales and has launched a fantastic new resource for anyone thinking to travelling, investing or who is just interested in the area's delights. So, check out www.coffeeaxistravel.com&nbsp;  As we learn through Erin's infectious enthusiasm, the cultural offerings in this region are as yet untapped and there is much for the visitor to enjoy. Erin herself has immersed herself in Manizales' world of tango.&nbsp;  This is a timely episode with the ANATO tourism fair in Bogotá this week and we discuss how Colombia and the Coffee region in general can branch out and appeal to a wider audience.&nbsp;  Of course, in addition to our informed and entertaining conversation with Erin, as is now the format, the Colombia Calling podcast will be introduced with a news segment provided by Adriaan Alsema, director of Colombia Reports.

262: Coffee Axis Travel in Colombia

Colombia Calling is your first stop for everything you ever wanted to know about Colombia. Interviewing experts in the travel industry, dealing with security issues and explaining the cultural nuances of this newly fashionable destination. Newscast provided by Emily Hart.

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