This is a compilation of all "Latin Pulse" programs that deal with the topic of indigenous religions.

The photo of a Mayan astrological circle is from theilr via Flickr using a Creative Commons license: http://www.flickr.com/photos/90863480@N00/2176833400/in/photolist-4jmQJm-4iRHeM-4kZMEd-4ihEm2-4mormw-4kvdxQ-4j6SjF-4ieuMe-4iVLKS-4kvdSQ-4mkAiN-4iVMbJ-4mjnY2-4jaVjA-4kveoQ-4iRHVB-4ievap-4iVMVA-4kVKxk-4kgMku-4kgMpY

Indigenous Religions

“Latin Pulse” goes online this week on Halloween, which provides a backdrop for the exploration of the culture of death in Mexico and elsewhere in Latin America. The program discusses in-depth the Day of the Dead traditions in Mexico, Guatemala and the United States.  The program also discusses the folk saint Santa Muerte in Mexico and how that icon has become popular among drug cartels.  The program also connects the Day of the Dead celebrations and Santa Muerte to indigenous religions. The news segment of the program covers a conference for indigenous women in Peru.

The program includes interviews with:


Prof. Rhonda Buchanan of the University of Louisville; and
Prof. Andrew Chesnut of Virginia Commonwealth University. 


Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;
Associate Producer: Megan Ekhaml.

The photo of a depiction of Santa Muerte is by Dan Morales of Austin, Texas, using a Creative Commons license, via Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7719768@N06/468794066/in/photolist-HqG9j-HqGjs-cQuxF7-cQux4E-cQuEhQ-cQuwpq-6eBhKL-6eBph9-6eBorQ-bvKVxm-6exi2r-cQrGdh-cQrDwd-cQrERW-cQrBVd-cQrFo9-cQrzVw-cQrZJN-cQrCPQ-55Pid8-681kYq-bKkSCt-HqGmN-HqKJa-HqKLk-HqKWP-HqKQr-HqKUn-a26g9Y-4BjBqE-8bntz5-cQtJqb-cQtR1f-cQx6Qd-cQunAC-cQtW7U-cQuf99-cQut7Y-cQtNso-cQtFBA-cQurSA-cQtM1S-cQwPXy-cQu1WU-cQu7cA-cQtKz5-cQtEMd-cQuiRy-cQugEN-cQuBq1-cQtPKU

“Latin Pulse” is produced at American University’s School of Communication. This program is sponsored by the university’s Center for Latin American & Latino Studies (CLALS), in association with Link TV.

http://www.american.edu/soc/
http://www.american.edu/clals/latin-pulse.cfm


Death Culture in Mexico & Beyond (Lp10312013)

This week, Latin Pulse studies the culture of indigenous religions as the program dives into the history of the Day of the Dead. The program takes a look at the impact of colonialism on this holiday, and how those changes continue to impact Latin America today. However, the day continues to be a celebration of humanity's relationship with death and the environment. Then, in the second half of the show, the program analyzes Mayan spirituality and its central role in Mayan culture. The news segment of the program follows the evolving situation with a group of missing university students in Mexico.


The program includes in-depth interviews with:


Roberto Barrios of Southern Illinois University - Carbondale;
David Freidel of Washington University.


Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; 
Producer: Jim Singer; and
Associate Producer: Gabriela Canchola.

The photo is by kaizermodo via Flickr using a Creative Commons license: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kaizermodo/6152552466/in/photolist-anFruN-5yVo1v-aByjUf-akWLtP-7d1v3V-81pZne-anCDxa-9ThV34-pAFeUE-pAGY9v-rn2cN-awRgGH-8PvP9y-bEYi8n-7ayEja-w2XeG-5y2Hrt-dWJZUn-5z61i6-8PsKUk-47BRvm-34DTDZ-pjdm5b-8VpoaJ-7dbuCJ-8PsYQM-5yXgQq-pGWd4j-7d5bJU-77M14k-dpygpT-oM3Nq-aBnRPv-aACvWF-5zs7pG-fK29V-5yUJ3J-3K61cf-5xVNF5-hd73p1-5yCb7x-e1cW9q-8Kx4Y8-dx1w3k-k4t5Dk-8PyVpi-7h7NWw-kNKcB-rpnmp-5yZJcS


The program is produced at Webster University: www.webster.edu/


Religious Culture: Day of the Dead & Mayan Spirituality (Lp10312014)

During the first month of the new year, Latin Pulse focuses on the spiritual aspects of indigenous communities as a way of providing reflection on this time of change.  The program features the stories and analysis of experts on archaeology and anthropology to provide context on these deep topics.  The program looks at spiritual practice and history in Mexico and Guatemala.  The news segment of the program discusses the latest change in travel and trade regulations between the U.S. and Cuba, allowing travelers from the United States to travel to Cuba unfettered for the first time in many decades.


The program includes in-depth interviews with:


David Freidel of Washington University; and
Tim Knab of the Universidad de las Americas - Puebla. 


Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; 
Producer: Jim Singer; and
Production Assistant: Gabriela Canchola.


The photo of a Mayan astrological circle is from theilr via Flickr using a Creative Commons license:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/90863480@N00/2176833400/in/photolist-4jmQJm-4iRHeM-4kZMEd-4ihEm2-4mormw-4kvdxQ-4j6SjF-4ieuMe-4iVLKS-4kvdSQ-4mkAiN-4iVMbJ-4mjnY2-4jaVjA-4kveoQ-4iRHVB-4ievap-4iVMVA-4kVKxk-4kgMku-4kgMpY


The program is produced at Webster University: www.webster.edu/



Indigenous Religions: The Maya & the Aztecs (Lp1162015)

What happens when you mix drug cartels with religion? This week, Latin Pulse explores the rise of narco-religion in Mexico.  The discussion includes a heady mix of discussion regarding the veneration of Catholic saints by violent criminals but also the rise of the devotion of folk saints such as Santa Muerte.  The program also discusses curanderos and the use of witchcraft by the cartels.  The news segment of the program covers the outbreak of violence in student protests in Chile; the protestors are calling for more equity in higher education in the country.


The program includes in-depth interviews with:


Andrew Chesnut of Virginia Commonwealth University; and
Tim Knab of the Universidad de las Americas in Puebla, Mexico.


Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; 
Producer: Jim Singer; and
Production Assistant: Sierra Hancock.


The graphic of Santa Muerte is in the public domain and is via Wikimedia Commons: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Muerte#/media/File:Muerte-Blanca_6.jpg


Produced for release on May 15, 2015.


The program is produced at Webster University: www.webster.edu/


Mexico: The Rise of Narco-Religion (Lp5152015)

Latin Pulse registers its 200th episode this week, so the program looks back at the audience's favorite programs since the program became an online radio project.  Themes included in the program include migration, the Drug War, the civil war in Colombia, indigenous issues, and the construction of the Belo Monte Dam in Brazil. The program also includes a discussion of religion, including Santeria and about the folk saint Santa Muerte.  The news segment of the program analyzes the surprise diplomatic move this week by President Mauricio Macri in Argentina to reach out to the United Kingdom.


The program includes interviews with:

Maureen Meyer of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA);
Gimena Sanchez of WOLA;
Eve Bratman of American University;
Michael Atwood Mason, Director of the Smithsonian Center for Folklife & Cultural Heritage; and
Andrew Chesnut of Virginia Commonwealth University.


Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; 
Technical Director: Jim Singer; and
Associate Producer: Natalie Ottinger.

Original versions of these interviews can be found at these URLs:

https://soundcloud.com/latinpulse/indigenous-issues-belo-monte-dam-drug-war-colombia-lp8312012

https://soundcloud.com/latinpulse/spirituality-santeria-santa-muerte-lp10262012

https://soundcloud.com/latinpulse/lp5182012



Program No. 200: War, Religion, Migration & More (Lp1222016)

Latin American cinema provides the key discussion points this week on "Latin Pulse." The program includes an in-depth discussion with the director of "Embrace of the Serpent," the first Colombian film nominated for an Academy Award.  The program also includes a survey of some of the most interesting newer film releases from Brazil, including "Casa Grande," "The Second Mother," and "Neighboring Sounds." The news segment of the program covers the latest move by U.S. President Barack Obama to close the detention facilities at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo and how the U.S. Congress has thwarted those efforts.


The program includes in-depth interviews with:

Ciro Guerra, director of Embrace of the Serpent; and
Kathy Corley of Webster University.


Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; 
Technical Director: Jim Singer; and
Associate Producer: Natalie Ottinger.


The photo is a screenshot from the film “Embrace of the Serpent” and is used here with permission as part of the promotions for the film: http://embraceoftheserpent.oscilloscope.net/



Films: 'Embrace of the Serpent' from Colombia & Notable Releases from Brazil (Lp2262016)

Spirituality and religion are at the heart of "Latin Pulse" this week.  The program discusses the rise of Santeria, tracing the religion from its Afro-Cuban roots to the variety of countries in Latin America that find it appealing.  The program also discusses the popularity of the Mexican folk saint known as Santa Muerte, and traces her history back through the Spanish Inquisition up to modern times and the Drug War.  The news segment of the program has an update on the destructive Hurricane Sandy.

In-depth interviews include:
Michael Atwood Mason of the Smithsonian Institution and author of "Living Santeria;"
and
Prof. R. Andrew Chesnut of Virginia Commonwealth University and author of "Devoted to Death."

Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell
Associate Producer: Curt Devine
Writer: Jordan D'eri and Colin Campbell.

The photo is from Oxford University Press for promotional reasons for "Devoted to Death" and is used with permission. (www.amazon.com/Devoted-Death-Santa-Muerte-Skeleton/dp/0199764654/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1351290404&sr=8-1)

(Michael Atwood Mason also authors the blog "Baba Who? Babalú!" at: http://baba-who-babalu-santeria.blogspot.com/ )

Spirituality: Santeria & Santa Muerte (Lp10262012)

This week, Latin Pulse comes one day early to provide a special centered on the myths of the Mayan calendar.  Although some wrongly attribute beliefs about a doomsday on Dec. 21, 2012 to the Mayan calendar, this program traces the origins of such misinformation and discusses Mayan astronomy, astrology, and religion.  The news segment of the program covers the creation of a new federal police force in Mexico and how that might affect the Drug War and human rights concerns in that country.
In-depth interviews include:

Dr. Mark Van Stone of Southwest College; 
and 
Dr. David Freidel of Washington University.

Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell
Associate Producer: Curt Devine 

The photo is by Rick Rockwell and is used with permission.

This program features traditional music by Mayan musicians from Mexico and Guatemala available through Smithsonian Folkways Music: http://www.folkways.si.edu/modern-mayan-the-indian-music-of-chiapas-mexico-vol-1/american-indian-world/album/smithsonian

For a playlist of these indigenous folk songs, please go here: https://www.box.com/shared/static/jbw8flrpc89gvldt2j25.pdf


The Mayan Calendar Special (Lp12202012)

“Latin Pulse” is a weekly program that reviews news from Latin America and analyzes politics, culture, religion, and important issues throughout the region. This weekly podcast is distributed by Link TV, iTunes, and, of course, SoundCloud.  

Indigenous Religions

LatinPulse