It's a pleasure to have academic and University teacher Pete Watson back on the show (see Ep185 Football and Politics in Colombia) and talking about his findings from his time in Colombia in 2017. 

Pete discusses how football projects are building a sense of nationhood, society and identity in Colombia and how the yellow shirt of the Colombian national team is more than just a football kit. 

We talk about the politicization of football language in the speeches of current President Juan Manuel Santos and how the Colombian premier has used football to push ahead with his agenda. 

Tune in for a fascinating and in-depth conversation about the evolution of sport and politics in Colombia.

Sitting down and chatting with British journalist Matthew Charles is an education and an eye opening experience into the mind of a brave and selfless correspondent who will stop at nothing to get the story out there. Who better to speak to regarding Colombia's current state of malaise than Charles? Having recorded interviews with members of neo paramilitary groups (broadcast on Insight Crime) and then spent more than a week with the ELN guerrillas, Charles can provide us with an invaluable insight into off-limits Colombia and the work, life and times of a serious freelance foreign correspondent. Tune in!

This week on Colombia Calling we throw you are curve ball and bring on Charles Massey of Ottawa to talk about his experiences in Barranquilla as a volunteer English teacher, but not only do we focus on La Arenosa, but we delve into the world of Bollywood a little too. 

In a fresh and fun episode we are able to broadcast for the first time on Colombia Calling some bollywood songs and they certainly don't disappoint. Tune in and enjoy.

Here we are, on Colombia Calling, starting 2018 fresh in mind and ready to take on the world...or at least Colombia in this election year which may be a make or break moment on various fronts for the country. 

After such a long hiatus away from Colombia and back in the UK, I have returned - several kilos heavier - and with the desire to take on even more challenges and best them. so, we discuss the elections, the potential presidential candidates, the problems with Colombia's taxes, some positives from 2017 and much more...oh yes, please check out my new walking tour guidebook to Bogotá entitled: "Bogotá through the Five Senses" available now as an ebook on Amazon.com