What happens when one of the world’s most iconic natural wonders gets a bold blueprint for sustainable living? In this episode of Talk Latin America, hosts Diego Laje and Michelle Marinho are joined by Analia Pastran, global smart city pioneer and founder of In Smartly. Together, they unpack an ambitious project to transform the Galapagos Islands beyond biodiversity—bringing “Living Labs” into local schools, hotels, and homes so that both people and nature thrive.

Learn how cooling classrooms with bamboo and volcanic stone, updating building codes, and training local architects are radically improving daily life and creating new models of climate resilience from the ground up. Discover how this award-winning approach is scaling across Central America and the Caribbean—and hear how community-driven design can reshape the future of Latin America’s most vulnerable territories.

If you care about sustainable development, smart cities, and the untold stories of innovation happening far from Silicon Valley, this episode is for you. Now streaming—only on Talk Latin America.

#SmartCities #Galapagos #TalkLatinAmerica

Talk Latin America cohost Diego Laje sits down with Cristina Tardaguila, renowned founder of Lupa, the pioneering Brazilian news agency dedicated to fact-checking. Cristina shares her personal journey from Rio de Janeiro to Washington, D.C. after facing threats for her work combating disinformation and fake news during Brazil's tumultuous elections.

Discover the realities and personal risks faced by fact-checkers in Latin America, and how misinformation is evolving. Cristina, cohost Michelle Marinho and Diego dive deep into:

• The explosion of disinformation and the personal toll on journalists
• The rise of AI-generated deepfakes and financial scams across Latin America
• Practical ways fact-checkers are keeping citizens safe
• How scammers exploit public figures and trusted news anchors through sophisticated social engineering
• The changing landscape of truth, disinformation, and the ethics of fact-checking
• Unique insights into the biggest misinformation threats facing Latin America today

If you're interested in digital journalism, Latin American current affairs, or the global battle against disinformation, this conversation offers truly rare, frontline perspectives.

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to the Talk Latin America podcast for more insightful interviews with leading voices shaping the region’s future!

#LatinAmerica #FactChecking #Misinformation #Disinformation #CristinaTardaguila #TalkLatinAmerica #AI #FakeNews #Journalism #Brazil #Deepfakes #Scams #PublicSafety #GlobalAffairs #CGTNAmerica

In this edition, we dive deep into the forces reshaping Latin America’s economic landscape with renowned economist Otaviano Canuto—former senior official at the IMF, World Bank, and Inter-American Development Bank, now a leading policy expert analyzing economic development and global finance at the Policy Center for the New South and Brookings Institution.Together with co-host Michele Marinho, Latin America Editor at CGTN, this conversation delivers essential analysis for anyone invested in—OR curious about—the future of the region’s economies, political shifts, and international relations.Este episodio también habla sobre temas que impactan a toda la región ¡Bienvenidos a nuestra audiencia de ambos lados del Atlántico y en las Américas!Episode Highlights:In an era of evolving global trade and geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China, Otaviano Canuto unpacks:- How Latin American economies must navigate competing pressures from Washington and Beijing.- The contrasting approaches: China's “carrots” (investment, trade) vs. the U.S.’s “sticks” (sanctions, tariffs).- The region’s progress on macroeconomic stabilization amidst inflation, debt, and inequality.- Lessons from policy success stories in education in Brazil and Vietnam, demonstrating the potential of incentive-based reforms.- The persistent governance and security challenges, including the dire situation in Haiti—which demands regional cooperation and better institutional integrity.- The critical role of cross-national collaboration against organized crime.- The social cost of inequality, and the urgent need to boost human capital and inclusive growth.- Geopolitical Balancing Act: Latin America is increasingly caught between U.S. pressure to curb ties with China and the attractive investment/trade opportunities that Beijing provides. - “Countries are walking a very thin line,” says Canuto—requiring nuanced diplomacy and diversified strategies.- Trade and Investment Trends: China is now the principal trading partner for nearly all South American countries, investing heavily in infrastructure and energy, while the U.S. remains a key player but with a changing approach.- Policy and Governance: Strong governance and transparency are paramount—especially to combat corruption, empower effective public spending, and tackle organized crime.- Educational Innovation: Groundbreaking models like Brazil’s Ceará program show that performance-based incentives for teachers significantly raise educational standards, an example relevant to emerging and developed economies alike.- Macro Stability with Persistent Risks: Most of the region has improved policy management, but persistent inequalities, political polarization, and unresolved crises (notably in Argentina, Venezuela, and Haiti) are urgent challenges.- Inclusive Growth Required: Investment in human capital (especially early childhood education) and targeted reforms are crucial to unlocking the region’s potential.- Haiti’s Crisis as a Regional Test: The humanitarian and governance crisis in Haiti underscores the need for integrated, regional support and authentic inclusive strategy, beyond piecemeal aid.- Proactive Leadership & Communication: The trajectory of Latin America’s economies—within shifting global alliances—will be shaped by its capacity to communicate its priorities and collaborate across borders.About the Guest:Otaviano Canuto A leading voice in economic policy, Canuto draws on decades of hands-on experience across Latin America and globally. His pragmatic, bicultural perspective offers actionable insights to professionals, diplomats, NGOs, academia, policymakers, journalists, and multinationals invested in or working with the region.