The Mexpat Interview

Kathleen Bohné
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Follow the national conversation in Mexico. www.themexpatriate.com

Episodes

  1. On the past and endless present of the drug war

    30 MAR

    On the past and endless present of the drug war

    Since Trump returned to office, headlines about “historic” and “unprecedented” events in the drug war (and everything else) have come fast and furious. How much of this signals we are witnessing a new era of the drug war? What is truly unprecedented and what is déjà vu? My guest in this episode is Benjamin T. Smith, professor of Latin American history at the University of Warwick and author of “The Dope: The Real History of the Mexican Drug Trade,” a meticulously researched and essential reference for understanding the historical context behind the news cycle. Our conversation covers the origins and history of the “kingpin” strategy, how the CJNG operates, the ongoing civil war in the Sinaloa Cartel, how Sheinbaum’s security policy differs (or not) from her predecessors’ and much more. You can listen to the audio-only version of this interview on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and the video version is also available on YouTube. Questions, commentary or feedback? Email me: hola@themexpatriate.com. And if you would like to support my work, please subscribe below. Get full access to The Mexpatriate at www.themexpatriate.com/subscribe

    39 min
  2. On defending the lives and work of Mexican journalists

    16 MAR

    On defending the lives and work of Mexican journalists

    My guest in this episode is Alejandra Ibarra Chaoul, an award-winning investigative journalist and author whose work has focused on violence against reporters in Mexico, freedom of expression and other human rights issues. Our conversation covers her experience reporting on the trial of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, her project cataloguing the published work of murdered journalists, and how the work of local reporters and other community leaders overlaps—and exposes them to violence. Episode Notes You can buy Alejandra’s books “Causa de muerte: Cuestionar al poder” and “El Chapo Guzmán: el juicio del siglo” here. You can view the Defensores de Democracia archive here. Listen to the podcast “Voces Silenciadas” here. To learn more about the history of the press in Mexico, check out The Mexpat Interview with Andrew Paxman. Get full access to The Mexpatriate at www.themexpatriate.com/subscribe

    42 min
  3. On change and resilience in Mexico's film industry

    1 MAR

    On change and resilience in Mexico's film industry

    President Claudia Sheinbaum (accompanied by Salma Hayek) recently presented a proposed reform to the country’s film law to incentivize more national production and screening of Mexican films, and to attract investment. What does this mean for Mexico’s film industry, which has suffered in recent years from budget cuts to cultural programs? How does this position Mexico globally in film production? My guest in this episode of The Mexpat Interview is Sarah Hoch, founder and director of the Guanajuato International Film Festival, which will celebrate its 29th edition this year and has become one of the most important festivals in the country, particularly for young filmmakers. Our conversation ranges from the reaction to Sheinbaum’s reform, to AI and the film industry and her experiences as a “gringa” who lives in between two cultures. Get full access to The Mexpatriate at www.themexpatriate.com/subscribe

    37 min
  4. On the rise, fall and fate of the Mexican right

    15 FEB

    On the rise, fall and fate of the Mexican right

    My guest in this episode is Alex González Ormerod, founder of The Mexico Political Economist and author of “La derecha no existe (pero ahí está)” which explores the state of the political right in Mexico. The book combines history, political philosophy and reportage to show how the disarray of the right is not only a problem for Mexican conservatives, but for Morena itself. In this conversation, we discuss the identity crisis of the National Action Party (PAN), the emergence of new populist right movements, the intersection of religion and politics and what’s on the horizon in upcoming elections. Episode Notes * Read The Mexpat Interview with Alex about Trump 2.0 and the Mexican economy here * Catch up on recent coverage in The Mexpatriate of Ricardo Salinas Pliego and Eduardo Verástegui You can listen to the audio-only version of this interview on Apple Podcasts or Spotify (please rate and review!) and the video version is also available on YouTube. Questions, commentary or feedback? Email me: hola@themexpatriate.com. And if you would like to support my work, please subscribe below. Get full access to The Mexpatriate at www.themexpatriate.com/subscribe

    44 min
  5. "The media in Mexico acted as a propaganda mechanism"

    1 FEB

    "The media in Mexico acted as a propaganda mechanism"

    In this episode of The Mexpat Interview, I talk to former journalist and research professor Andrew Paxman, author of “Mexican Watchdogs: The Rise of a Critical Press since the 1980s,” about the historically co-dependent relationship between the press and the government, the more recent evolution of a free press and the threats it faces today in Mexico. Episode Notes: * You can order a copy of Andrew’s book “Mexican Watchdogs: The Rise of a Critical Press since the 1980s” here. * Consult the Artículo 19 database of journalists murdered in relation to their work in Mexico here. You can listen to the audio-only version of this interview on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and the video version is also available on YouTube. Questions, commentary or feedback? Email me: hola@themexpatriate.com. Get full access to The Mexpatriate at www.themexpatriate.com/subscribe

    46 min
  6. "With these drugs, it's really about supply creating demand"

    18 JAN

    "With these drugs, it's really about supply creating demand"

    A conversation with reporter Sam Quinones, author of “Dreamland” and "The Least of Us,” about how the shift from plant-based to synthetic illicit drugs has supercharged both addiction and trafficking profits, and how he thinks unchecked capitalism has contributed to the expansion of an addiction economy—legal and illegal—in the world today. Episode Notes * Subscribe to Sam’s The Dreamland Newsletter here. * For more background on Mexican cartels, weapons trafficking and illicit drug flows, check out my 2025 interviews with Ioan Grillo and Chris Dalby. * LA Times report referenced by Sam in the interview: “Mexico says it doesn’t have a fentanyl problem. New data reveal a hidden epidemic.” You can listen to the audio-only version of this interview on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and the video version is also available on YouTube. Get full access to The Mexpatriate at www.themexpatriate.com/subscribe

    44 min

  7. 12/12/2025

    "Women are being denied respect and dignity"

    A conversation with photojournalist and filmmaker Janet Jarman about her years documenting Mexican midwives and how their struggle for recognition and for the dignity of birthing women is also a bigger human rights story. Janet’s forthcoming book “Birth Wars: In Search of Dignity” is available for pre-order here. Learn more about the film “Birth Wars” and where to watch it here. Get full access to The Mexpatriate at www.themexpatriate.com/subscribe

    36 min
  8. "We try to make the bones speak"

    07/12/2025

    "We try to make the bones speak"

    A conversation with Dr. Cristina Valdiosera, a Mexican molecular archaeologist who is leading a multi-disciplinary study of the “mestizaje” called AdMEXture. To learn more about AdMEXTure, visit this page: https://www.instagram.com/admexture/ Get full access to The Mexpatriate at www.themexpatriate.com/subscribe

    33 min
  9. "We are dying in disorder"

    08/11/2025

    "We are dying in disorder"

    My guest in this interview is Wilka Roig, an end-of-life doula originally from Puerto Rico who is based in Mexico. We discuss the ancient history of accompaniment of the dying and our modern disconnection from death, the roots of Day of the Dead, the first “green” burial site in Latin America, access to palliative care and much more. Get full access to The Mexpatriate at www.themexpatriate.com/subscribe

    42 min
  • 9 Episodes

About

Follow the national conversation in Mexico. www.themexpatriate.com

Information

  • Creator
    Kathleen Bohné
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Kathleen Bohné
  • Show Website
    The Mexpat Interview