Podcasts – CGTN America: Recent Episodes
CGTN America
Jon Lee Anderson has covered some of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones, offering firsthand accounts from the heart of turmoil and unrest. His fearless reporting has taken him to the front lines of major international crises, where he has documented the human cost of war and conflict with remarkable detail and courage.
In addition to his coverage of global conflicts, Anderson’s work includes comprehensive profiles of some of Latin America’s most iconic figures. His insightful reporting has delved into the lives of influential leaders, activists, and cultural icons, providing readers with a deeper understanding of their impact on the region. Through his extensive journalism, Andersen has shed light on the complexities of both global and local narratives, enriching our knowledge of the world’s most critical issues.
Haiti is a broken state. Since the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise, street gangs armed with military grade weapons from the US have filled the power vacuum, taking control of 90 percent of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and swathes of the countryside. Killing and kidnapping-for-ransom are at an all-time high, and tens of thousands are fleeing to escape violence the United Nations says is on par with countries at war.
Haitian officials have called for another foreign intervention to break the gangs’ stranglehold. In the meantime, vigilante groups have formed to defend their neighborhoods. As the pressure builds, CGTN America gains rare access to the two most powerful gang factions battling for supremacy, and tracks the plight of civilians trapped in the crossfire.
Since declaring the War on Drugs fifty years ago, the US has spent billions in Colombia to fight cocaine. The result: more cocaine than ever before, and a black market that fuels corruption, and weakening countries across most of Latin America. It also pushed Colombia into a decades-long armed conflict. Now the Colombian government is promising an end to the War on Drugs by trying new approaches like decriminalizing cocaine and giving incentives to farmers who are willing to move away from coca crops.
Since 1989, over 3,000 people have been exonerated from prison sentences in the United States after evidence proved they were innocent. But how hard is it for those who are wrongfully convicted to rebuild their lives? Americas Now Podcast host Elaine Reyes talks to correspondent Dan Williams who followed several cases and produced a special report on this issue.
Imagine a choir where some singers cannot see and others cannot hear. That’s the concept of a unique project in Venezuela, which shows how – when pre-conceptions are put aside — music can be made. Americas Now Podcast host Elaine Reyes talks to Stephen Gibbs who deployed in the city of Barquisimeto to meet and interview these talented musicians and artists.
Navajo Nation people are being forced out. The same is happening in Central America, where the rainy season has become shorter and unpredictable. Farmers, most of whom are indigenous, can’t produce like they used to a decade ago, so they migrate north.
Americas Now Podcast host Elaine Reyes talks to award winning correspondent Alasdair Baverstock who has covered this story extensively.
Every morning…dozens of kids in western Venezuela leave their homes before 5-am — to embark on an adventurous journey to school. And it’s not just any school… it’s on the other side of the border, in Colombia. Americas Now Podcast host Elaine Reyes talks to correspondent Michelle Begue who followed students and visited schools for several days to produce a special report.
San Francisco: From the Gold Rush boom to the Silicon Valley era, California’s “city by the bay” has long symbolized the prosperity of the American West, and the promise of new beginnings. Today, this city at the heart of America’s largest economy is struggling to keep its population as it battles with homelessness and a drug epidemic.
The Endless Harvest is a compilation of stories from all over the world showing us that sustainable growth is not only possible but actually happening.
In Florida, an NGO is linking with several companies from the hospitality industry to guarantee that the unused soap and toiletries from their guests can be reused in a circular fashion. They are not only recycling the contents but also the packages, reducing waste and keeping plastic from ending up in the landfills, and making sure the resulting products end up in the hands of communities in need.
In Nigeria, we tag along with a local entrepreneur who’s figured out a way to introduce smart farming and technological solutions to the local farmers, giving them tools to better adapt to changing weather patterns.
Finally, we head north to the Arctic border, where we learn how the people from Greenland and Iceland are making sure their economies complete their green transformation in order to successfully address the enormous challenges posed by the climate emergency.
Coping With Long COVID tells the story of three patients suffering from ongoing conditions after initially being infected with the COVID-19 virus. Each has a particular set of symptoms and wide-range of continuing health problems. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 1.13 million people have died from COVID-19 in the U.S., and approximately one in five COVID-19 patients still have Long COVID. For them, the virus continues to set the tone of their daily lives, and uncertainty lingers as scientists and doctors struggle to understand Long COVID or even agree on a standard treatment. They are the forgotten victims the pandemic left behind and yet manage to find the hope and strength needed to carry on.
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders worldwide, affecting about 300 million people, according to WHO. The good news is they’re also among the most treatable disorders.
This is a fundamental misunderstanding about social anxiety. It is not about a preference. When we think about preference for socializing, it’s more akin to introversion … Anxiety is about a fear of the social interaction, a fear of the evaluation and rejection,” said Dr. Fallon Goodman, an assistant professor of psychology at the George Washington University and director of the Emotion and Resilience Laboratory.
People do get better with exposure, practicing social skills, and challenging their thoughts, Goodman added. “On the other side of that is a life that’s rich and filled with positive experiences and wonderful social relationships that can lead to a life that feels so much more full than a life of isolation or fearing those social relationships,” she said.
When archaeologists started excavations in Anyang, China in the 1920s, they found artifacts that had survived thousands of years buried in the ground. They included bronze pots, clay jars and jade jewelry. They also discovered the early stages of the Chinese writing system.
Keith Wilson, curator at Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, organized an exhibit featuring these objects in Washington, D.C.
The city of Anyang, which is about 300 miles south of Beijing, existed for just two centuries. But in that time, it grew to cover over 14 square miles, about half the size of Miami. The exhibition gives a glimpse into what life was like in ancient Anyang.
“One thing about Chinese material culture is that it’s all primarily functional objects. They’re made for use,” Wilson.” I think people are much more accustomed to ancient Egypt and the Mediterranean world. Ancient China … is still not as well-known. So I hope that through a project like this, people can see that China had this incredibly important prehistoric and historic culture.”
Returning to society after serving time in prison comes with many hurdles. According to research from the Prison Policy Initiative, formerly incarcerated individuals are ten times more likely to become homeless. This struggle is even more pronounced for people of color and women. Moreover, the FBI warns about a troubling rise in street gangs, numbering around 33,000 nationwide. These gangs, known for their brutality and organization, target young recruits, some as young as ten, fueling their growth.
In a recent interview with Full Frame, Antonio Fernandez, a former gang leader who has since transformed his life, shared his journey. Through candidly recounting his personal struggles, Fernandez serves as a cautionary example for young people. His narrative not only highlights the challenges but also underscores the potential for redemption and second chances in life.
Today, the world is producing twice as much plastic waste as it was two decades ago. Plastics take anywhere from 20 to 500 years to decompose. According to the United Nations, only about 9 percent of plastic in the world is recycled.
Jesse Meiller is a marine ecologist and environmental toxicologist who studies microplastics, tiny bits of plastic that have been found everywhere, from the bottom of the ocean to inside human blood.
“Microplastics are made from almost everything that we use everyday that is plastic. …They’re ubiquitous because they’re being shed from so many different types of plastic,” said Meiller, a professor at Georgetown University’s Earth Commons Institute.
Meiller said single-use plastics are a big contributor to the plastic problem. From bags to water bottles, individuals can take action by eliminating single-use plastics in their lives.
“Our individual choices make a difference. We need to carry that forward though, and affect change at higher levels as well in order to have systemic change,” Meiller said.
Dr. Alfiee Breland-Noble is the founder of the AAKOMA Project, a nonprofit with a mission to meet the mental health needs of young people of color. The organization offers workshops, virtual counseling and consulting.
Youth and young people of color experience barriers to accessing psychological care for reasons beyond economic disparities.
“People worry about how they’re going to be treated when they get into that mental health professional’s chair because there are different outcomes by different aspects of identity,” Breland-Noble said. “We also know that our research literature has not done the best job of developing interventions and understanding mental illness across all different types of populations.”
The AAKOMA Project is working with researchers and institutions to collect data about youth of color on mental health, which can help drive policy changes.
By 2050, we will need 56 percent more food to feed 10 billion people, according to the World Resources Institute. But our global food system is challenged by climate change. How can we create a sustainable food system without using more land? Florence Reed works with farmers in Central America to restore degraded farmland and introduce regenerative farming practices. She is the founder of Sustainable Harvest International. “If all 500 million of those smallholder farmers around the world made this transition, they could get us 53% of the way to the United Nations goal for greenhouse gas reductions,” she said.
Daily headlines about shootings flood the news in the United States. As the shootings continue, how do those touched by gun violence move forward? Ryane Nickens has lost three family members to gun violence. She’s the founder of the nonprofit The TraRon Center that offers counseling programs, therapeutic arts, and workshops to raise community consciousness about the impact of gun violence.
Racism against Asian Americans has been largely underreported until recently. But anti-Asian sentiment has existed in the U.S. for centuries. In this Big Story podcast, we travel to San Francisco to report on the increasing number of attacks on Asian Americans and explore the roots of this racism.
In the mid-1950’s, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled racial segregation in schools to be unconstitutional. But more than 50 years later many black students in New York City are still feeling the effects of discrimination. On this Big Story podcast, we hear some of their stories.
St. Louis, Missouri was once one of America’s most industrialized cities. Industry drew many new residents, including a large number of African Americans. But today, St. Louis has become a hub of violence where the lines of segregation are still firmly in place.
In 2001, when the U.S. led an invasion of Afghanistan to oust the Taliban, the country had less than 50 miles of paved roads. The U.S. helped invest billions to create a new Ring Road connecting major Afghan cities.
On this Big Story podcast, we take a drive along Ring Road today. With the U.S. forces gone, the battered roadway now illustrates the struggles and heartbreak of a war-weary nation.
Big Story launches its podcast series with ‘Unbearable – Sandy Hook 10 years later’, an examination of the elementary school shooting that took the lives of 20 children and 6 adults. The shooting sent shockwaves across the country. This podcast takes a look back at this terrible tragedy and explores the issue of gun violence in the U.S. today.
Peruvian cuisine is a mix of many influences and cultures, including Asian. Two restaurants in Lima have been among the best in the world for few years now but great local food with fresh ingredients and low prices can be found literally in any neighborhood market or eatery. 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.
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.
The topic of climate change has been a key concern for decades. In order to save the planet nations have pledged to lower their carbon footprint in half by 2030.
The World Health Organization predicts that if something isn’t done, there will be around 250,000 deaths annually between 2030 and 2050, all linked to climate occurrences. Full Frame speaks with Inger Andersen, the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme.
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.
Elaine Reyes talks to correspondent Michelle Begue, who followed a patient who chose the path to his final journey.
How has the relationship between China and the United States developed in the last 50 years, and where do relations stand today?
Victor Gao served as an interpreter for Deng Xiaoping from 1983-1988. He’s currently vice president of the Beijing-based Center for China and Globalization and chair professor of Soochow University.
How can art advance social justice? Los Angeles-based artist Nikkolas Smith calls himself an artivist, bringing activism into his artwork.
His illustrations bring attention to systemic racism and police brutality in the hopes of sparking conversations and inspiring change.
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.
CGTN America has launched a brand new podcast called “Americas Now” hosted by Elaine Reyes. We’re taking a closer look at the most fascinating and critical stories from across the Americas, told through the experiences of our reporters on the ground. Here is a sneak […]
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.
The coronavirus pandemic is battering India with nearly 20 million people infected and close to 220,000 dead. Anand Naidoo spoke with journalist Asad Ashraf who’s on the ground covering the pandemic in India.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the failed CIA-led Bay of Pigs invasion in Cuba. It was a plot to oust Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Anand Naidoo spoke with acclaimed film-maker Oliver Stone about U.S. foreign policy over the past 60 years.
World leaders promised drastic action against climate change at a virtual summit hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden. In the U.S., California is leading that fight. Jared Blumenfeld, the state's Secretary for Environmental Protection, tells us more.
Will the latest tensions between Russia and Ukraine plunge the region into another crisis? Mike Walter spoke with Volodymyr Yelchenko, the Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. and American University professor Anton Fedyashin.
IMF’s managing director, Kristalina Georgieva spoke to Anand Naidoo about a range of issues including the IMF's projections for global economic recovery, its plans to help the world's poorest nations and China's role in mitigating debt.
U.S. and Chinese officials are meeting in Anchorage for the first time since Joe Biden became U.S. president. So how will they move forward on critical issues from trade to human rights? Former U.S. Ambassador to China, Gary Locke had some thoughts.
One of the biggest challenges for U.S. President Joe Biden is how to repair ties with China. What are the key areas of cooperation and conflict? On the latest episode of The Heat podcast, we spoke with former U.S. ambassador to China, Gary Locke.
The recent arrest of 13 men, some accused of plotting to kidnap the governor of Michigan has drawn attention to the threat posed by right-wing militias in the United States.
Global poverty levels are rising for the first time in 20 years as a result of COVID-19. Over 4 billion people around the world still do not have access to social protections such as basic healthcare. As the UN celebrates its 75th anniversary, what role […]
Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Abdallah Al Mouallimi discusses the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, Saudi’s role in Yemen, its ties with Iran, the Israel-United Arab Emirates agreement and much more.
COVID-19 is disproportionately hurting the poorest people in India and sub-Saharan Africa. Millions are on the brink of extreme poverty. How can their governments handle this crisis?
Two time NBA champion David West talks about protests for racial justice, anti-China sentiments in the U.S., the western media's skewed coverage of Hong Kong and much more.
Coronavirus cases are surging in Latin America which has now passed Europe as the region with the most fatalities. How will governments help those affected and ensure their overburdened healthcare systems don't collapse?
The coronavirus pandemic is exacerbating global poverty, especially in middle and lower income nations. More than 100 million people are likely to join those living in extreme penury - that's surviving on $1.90 or less per day.
The COVID-19 pandemic is raging across the United States with more than 151,000 dead and around 4.5 million infected. But there may be some hope on the horizon with scientists reporting encouraging results in their search for a vaccine.
China has launched an ambitious mission to Mars. It'll attempt to deploy an orbiter, lander and rover after the Tianwen-1 spacecraft enters Mars’ orbit in February. If it succeeds, China will become the first nation to achieve such a complex feat.
How will Palestinians respond to Israel's threats to annex parts of the West Bank? Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is planning to absorb almost a third of occupied Palestinian territories.
As COVID-19 surges among young people in the U.S., experts are warning them to take better precautions.
With three million coronavirus cases and a stuttering economy, how will the U.S. handle the crisis?
The state of Saudi-Iranian relations and the how Saudi’s growing relationship with China might impact the country’s economic and political future.
New bills are being introduced to tackle the issue of police brutality but many are questioning whether new legislation can really get to the core of the issue?
The United States history of anti-communism - and intervention in foreign nations - has had a deadly impact from Asia to Latin America and beyond. For fresh insights, we're joined by Vincent Bevins - an American journalist and author of The Jakarta Method: Washington’s Anticommunist Crusade and the Mass Murder Program that Shaped Our World.
U.S. President Trump is pressuring North Carolina's governor to let Republicans host up to 50,000 people at their August convention. But do any mass gatherings risk reigniting the deadly pandemic? And what about sports? We were joined by Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at UCSF.
As COVID-19 destabilizes the U.S., Donald Trump and allies continue to attack China. Where will these attacks lead? And what can parties do - in both countries - to avoid a permanent rift? We were joined by Max Baucus, a former U.S. ambassador to China under the Obama administration, and Senator from Montana.
As workers and their families struggle with loss of income and uncertainty - U.S. policy makers scramble to find a way out of a downward economic spiral. But will efforts to re-open the economy cost further loss to livelihood - and lives? We were joined by John Quelch - Dean of the Miami Herbert Business School at the University of Miami.
As the Trump administration faces criticism for lack of preparation and handling of the COVID-19 crisis - how far will it go in its attempts to blame China? What effect will these attacks have on global efforts to fight the pandemic? We're joined by Martin Jacques, global affairs commentator, academic, and author of the book When China Rules the World.
As the coronavirus outbreak continues in New York City, how are front line medical workers handling the emotional toll? And how can they ensure safety - and dignity - for themselves and the patients they serve. We were joined by Dr Qanta Ahmed, a pulmonologist at New York University’s Langone Medical Center.
Scientists have rejected the theory that the COVID-19 pandemic started in a Wuhan lab. Then why is this conspiracy theory still being spread by right-wing media and politicians? We speak to The Gray Zone founder Max Blumenthal on the motivations - and dangers - of spreading misinformation about coronavirus.