Listening Clubs are events that Radio Ambulante fans organize to listen to podcasts together, engage in conversation, and form a community. These events provide a chance to strengthen relationships, explore new topics, practice empathy, and expand one’s worldview.

They were born in 2018 after learning that hundreds of people were interested in discussing and reflecting on each new episode that we published in our Facebook group. So we thought that this very human activity of coming together to talk was what many members of our community were looking for. In 2019, we decided to test pilot clubs in four cities in Latin America and the United States to see if the in-person meetings would be successful, and it turned out that they were. Since then, our community has voluntarily organized hundreds of Listening Clubs around the world.

We are still growing. We believe that collective reflection builds more democratic and tolerant societies. We also believe that these are ideal spaces for making new relationships that enrich and allow us to see the world outside of a sounding board.

Not only do we believe this, but dozens of Listening Club participants have shared the same sentiment with us.

CLUB EXPERIENCES

América Solórzano

the Jalisco Listening Club, Mexico

I am an educator and I run a club with children using the episodes from the playlist for curious little minds. It has been a great experience. The kids look forward to Club Day to talk about that week's episode. The first we heard was 240 birds. They loved it so much that several decided to capture what they felt with drawings and watercolors.

Luisa Pareja

Panama City Listening Club

The Club arose as an excuse to expand my group of friends in a place where I was new, however now, it is also an opportunity to contribute to the cultural offerings in Panama. This space has become a safe place to listen, discuss topics in-depth, and share something to eat or drink while we open up to endless stories that teach us something new.

Claudia González

Clearwater Listening Club, United States

Our club was created at the Clearwater Community Library during the pandemic and has been held on a monthly basis ever since. Since it is sometimes virtual, we have had participants from Boston, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Saint Petersburg, and Tampa; even members of the Radio Ambulante team have accompanied us. It has been a great experience to learn about Latin America and practice Spanish.

Javiera Osorio

Listening Club of New York, United States

In the midst of the pandemic and with the desire to interact with other people, I joined the New York Club, which was held virtually in those days. It has been three years of talking and even dancing with these fascinating people that today I can call friends. So, once the quarantine was over, I decided to travel to the United States and meet those who had taught me so much in the conversations we had in recent months.

WHAT ATTENDEES SAY

Radio Ambulante listeners have organized hundreds of Listening Clubs around the world. To be exact, on every continent, there has been at least one Listening Club. We interviewed more than 100 people who have participated in the meetings and this is what they think.