Two countries, One Obsession

Argentina has some of South America’s largest glaciers—including the world-famous Perito Moreno. But most of them are melting at unprecedented rates. On this episode of the Americas Now podcast, CGTN correspondent shares the behind the scenes and insights of his recent short documentary report on the Perito Moreno glacier. Year of Glacier Preservation, this year’s COP30 summit is spotlighting glacier loss and the urgent need for accelerated climate action. Reporter Joel Richards travels to Argentina’s side of Patagonia to witness firsthand how these disappearing ice giants are reshaping the landscape.

Only three countries in the Americas have ever won the FIFA World Cup. On this episode of the Americas Now podcast, Buenos Aires-based correspondent Joel Richards explores how football (soccer) became the cultural heartbeat of Argentina (a 3-time winner) and Uruguay (a twice-winner). During a conversation with host Elaine Reyes, Richards also traces these countries’ historic triumphs and how icons like Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi transformed the sport globally.

 Colombia is one of South America’s top cattle producers and it all happens in the region of “los Llanos” in the northeast of the country. At the core of the production cycle are thousands of traditional cowboys. Michelle Begue explains the story of cowgirls who are also embedded in the ranching culture, breaking barriers and leaving their mark.  

For many years, Mexico City has been a premier hub for renowned writers—like Nobel laureate Gabriel García Márquez—due to its vibrant cultural scene and thriving publishing industry. It's also an affordable alternative to other intellectual communities like Paris. On this episode of the Americas Now podcast, CGTN correspondent Alasdair Baverstock will take us to the neighborhoods loved by writers and share with us what international intellectuals find so appealing about this city. Baverstock will also tell us about his recent visit to the home of "Like Water for Chocolate" author Laura Esquivel who he interviewed for a profile.

In November 2016, Colombia signed a historic final peace agreement to end over 50 years of conflict with the FARC guerrilla group. The agreement, ratified by Congress, set a framework for disarmament and political participation for former rebels. On this episode of the Americas Now podcast, we will speak with Juan Manuel Santos, the former Colombian president who signed the peace. And later, we will chat with CGTN correspondent Michelle Begue, who covered the conflict—that cost tens of thousands of lives—the long negotiation process, and the aftermath of the peace deal. 

One in four children in Haiti suffers from chronic malnutrition. It’s the leading cause of death for children under 5 years old. In early 2024, CGTN correspondent Jason Motlagh deployed in Haiti and visited refugee camps and hospitals to uncover why food insecurity and poor living conditions are rapidly worsening. Motlagh joins host Elaine Reyes on this podcast conversation to give details about the crisis and what is being done to try to contain it. This episode includes testimonies of parents, medical experts and grassroots leaders.

Haiti has been gripped by increasing gang violence ever since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. Nearly 1.3 million people have been forced to flee and seek refuge. More than half of them are women and children. Over a dozen UN entities operate in Haiti, which is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Haiti suffers from multiple crises, including infant malnutrition and severe deforestation. UN Insider’s host Elaine Reyes interviews Maria Isabel Salvador, who is the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in the Caribbean country. This is the premiere episode for the UN Insider Podcast which will be launched later this summer.

For years, countless migrants have risked everything trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico border. But some never make it and meet a tragic ending. A number of those who die during the journey do not carry ID. But there is a group of scientists devoted to identifying the nameless. They also help bring closure to their grieving families.  Correspondent John Zarrella –who traveled to Texas to meet these dedicated forensic anthropologists- shares with Elaine Reyes the insights of this story of hope, humanity and science.  

Hispanic communities in the U.S. are on edge, bracing for raids by federal authorities looking to deport undocumented immigrants. For decades, the flow of migration in the Americas has followed a familiar direction: North. Fueled by dreams of safety, opportunity, and a better life, migrants from across Latin America and the Caribbean have journeyed toward the United States. But now, a striking and largely overlooked shift is underway. Americas Now podcast host Elaine Reyes talks to three CGTN correspondents who have intensively covered deportations and migrants’ stories during the first half of 2025. Chicago-based Dan Williams shares the concerns of one of the largest Mexican communities in the United States, Alasdair Baverstock focuses on the situation of migrants at the Mexico-U.S. border, while Michelle Begue reports on the “reverse migration” occurring in Panama, from where hundreds of people take buses and boats as they travel back to their home countries.

Her debut novel “The House of the Spirits” sold over 70 million copies and was translated to more than 20 languages. Chilean best-selling author Isabel Allende has enchanted readers around the world since the early 1980s. CGTN correspondent Mike Kirsch visited the legendary writer at her home in California and shared all the insights of that captivating conversation with Elaine Reyes. This Americas Now podcast episode includes soundbites by Isabel Allende delving into her past, discussing her creative process and revealing her hopes for the future of literature.