Surfing the English Waves

A much needed rest for Spanish-weary ears, tune into the growing number of English language radio shows in Buenos Aires. Everything from expert horologists to the true meaning of ‘boludo.’ A combination of new music, roundtable discussions, and stimulating interviews, the Buenos Aires airwaves are host to a number of programmes posed to take you behind the scenes of the city without the use of a Webster’s.

The Typical Mistake, Palermo Radio 94.7

Consider ‘The Typical Mistake’ your alternative education while in Buenos Aires. Perhaps slightly inane, this English language show will take you to places you wouldn’t usually go. And you don’t even have to leave your room. Easy to find on Palermo’s main station or online, the three co-hosts will introduce you to the Indonesian ambassador, a professional poker player and an horologist – a specialist in big clocks who studied at Big Ben; incidentally, show founder and host, Guillermo Ruben’s, favourite guest. “Also the bagpipers,” he adds in, “they really bought down the house. The phone was ringing off the hook.”

Guillermo Rubens started The Typical Mistake 11 years ago with the idea that there were no other English language radio shows in Buenos Aires. Since then, the weekly talk-show has blossomed, welcoming in a number of co-hosts who hail from every corner of the globe and cover every obscure information niche imaginable. The show also conducts interviews with specialists based in Buenos Aires, inviting diplomats and the heads of Argentine scientific societies; as Guillermo enthusiastically informs me, “the cartographers are coming!”

The show is aimed at tourists, but Guillermo, being a teacher by profession also makes the show of interest to English language classes. “But what I like about it the most, is that people listen online from other countries.” Indeed, Guillermo never fails to give an international shout out each time he is on air.

“I try not to have the show be all that ‘current’ because that’s not what its about; the idea of the show is culture, to dispense knowledge that you didn’t have before and that’s interesting.” As Guillermo and co-host Mark Shaw explain, the show is made up of small episodes that focus on interviews with interesting characters rather than providing an up to date agenda of what is going on in the city. However each show promises something unique. Though you may never have asked, The Typical Mistake will leave you one step ahead of the crowd, nevertheless.

Tune in, Mondays at 3pm, online www.ipradio.com.ar/asx/fmpalermo.asx or 94.7 FM, Radio Palermo

BA Live, Urbana 89.5

In a very different vain is Sorrel Moseley-Williams’ BA Live on Urbana 89.5. A welcome break from the stale 80s pop that drifts in and out of taxi windows, and still haunts many dance floors in the city, BA Live offers the latest beats selected by in-house DJ Rama, who runs some of the biggest club nights in Buenos Aires.

The idea was born last June, as a result of a hazy night at a Los Alamos gig and a chance meeting with a woman who works for BA Metro 95.1 and is also involved with the electronic music festival, Creamfields. “We got together, knocked a few ideas around, and came up with the show.” Sorrel, who also works for the Buenos Aires Herald, sees the broadcast as an extension of her time on the entertainment desk. “I wanted to bring in some news, but also really, just what’s going on, because there isn’t really a format for that.” Interrupting the music which runs almost solidly, Sorrel introduces gigs, gallery openings, new restaurants and other local events.

“The idea is to have different guests, English speakers, but also Argentines who can talk about stuff that is going on – for example, Jonah from Los Alamos talks about the latest gigs, and Liz Gleeson from Buenos Aires Time Out comes in a lot.” Anything from chefs to film directors, depending on what’s happening in the city. “Bite size information, broken down into sections,” she explains.

“The show is not aimed at foreigners, but is for anyone who speaks English and wants to know what’s going on.” But spoken information is kept at a minimum. Instead, Sorrel and DJ Rama focus on bringing in music that isn’t often heard on the other radio stations of Buenos Aires. A perfect place to tune into the city, BA Live will keep you in the know and up-to-date, all to the beat of freshly spun rhythms.

Thursdays 9-11pm, Radio Urbana 89.5. www.urbana895fm.com.ar

Public Radio Foreign Service (RAE): English Language News Broadcast

Part of Argentina’s Public Radio Foreign Service (RAE), Fernando Ferías works hard to keep a dying tradition alive. In the 1940s public radio was the foremost source of news throughout the country and short wave radio once projected the central image Argentina across international seas. However with the rise of FM, television and the internet, short wave stations are now only picked up by ‘DX-ers’ or “hobbyists who search for short wave radio on an instrument which is no longer made.”

Still, show host Fernando Ferías remains committed to the station which makes up part of the international service of Argentine radio. “Each country is given a number of airwaves,” he explains. “Its part of a nation’s sovereignty and in order to protect it, you must also preserve airspace.”

Searching the airwaves for RAE with an old-fashioned radio device is an exercise in sepia-toned fascination. Wondering who else, across the globe or at sea is witnessing this live piece of weekly history from the other side of the world. However, beyond the romantic remnants of old-time radio broadcasts, RAE also presents an overview of the national news, provided by a team of journalists and translators who are devoted to the numerous foreign language short wave stations of Radio Nacional.

The news presented casts a broad eye over Argentina, as it is aimed “at listeners in other countries.” The straight-forward national headlines, illustrated with Argentine folk music and profiles of historical figures, offers a classic take on radio that harks back to the beginnings of the BBC World Service and some of the earliest international broadcasts: An uncluttered round up of current-affairs, with an eye to the political and cultural history of Argentina.

Stream the episodes at www.radionacional.com.ar, Aired over shortwave, daily 3-4pm

Dan and Fernando’s Podcast

Dan Karlin and Fernando Ferías like to think of themselves as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, though they are unclear who is who. Indeed, their two-man show is an exercise in duality as they drift between expat and local, expert and novice. But neither is right or wrong. Instead, they aim to examine life in Buenos Aires as a fusion of culture; a study in the new direction of a shared global existence.

“I don’t think there is any one who is doing anything like this; we see these podcasts as a way to fuse many different areas of life, not only Spanish with language, but music with language, film with language, left with right, right with left.” Their podcast is built around group discussions that examine foreign words, unfamiliar concepts, the intersection of ideas. “Real dialogue, real discussion,” explains the enthusiastically gesticulating Dan. What does ‘intellectual’ mean in Spanish and English? The bus stop as an example of Argentine culture. How to use ‘boludo.’ What would happen if an Argentine joined the US Army? And they’re finding new answers everyday.

The free-flowing roundtable discussions, populated by experts or people with a unique point of view, are edited into twenty minutes shorts, perfect for the morning commute to work. “People are busy in Buenos Aires,” chimes in Dan. “They don’ have time to tune in to the radio. You need a car for that.” Instead, the portable podcast format promises an education on the go. And Dan and Fernando’s tireless search for a sound-bite of truth will keep you entertained for the length of a bus ride. Depending on the traffic.

Download or listen to the weekly podcasts at, http://bacast.com/ or subscribe on iTunes.

Lead Photo by Jessie Akin