Introducing The Soldiers Who Became Clowns from Things That Go Boom. Follow the show: Things That Go Boom A few hours outside Bogotá, a giant yellow circus tent rises above the countryside. Inside, families laugh at clowns, gasp at acrobats, and cheer for trapeze artists soaring overhead. The performers are all members of the Colombian military. For more than three decades, Circo Colombia has sent active-duty soldiers across the country to perform for communities, many of them in regions shaped by decades of armed conflict. Military officials say the circus builds trust, provides entertainment, and offers a different face of the armed forces. But not everyone sees it that way. Some Colombians view the circus as a sophisticated public-relations project for an institution still grappling with allegations of corruption, violence, and abuses committed during the country's long civil conflict. Others argue the performances can blur the line between entertainment, recruitment, and intelligence gathering. Reporter Natalie Skowlund travels to the town of Supatá to step inside the tent and meet the people at the center of this unusual story: soldier-clowns, former military performers, circus historians, government officials, and audience members trying to make sense of what happens when the military puts on a show. In this episode: Why Colombia has a military circus, what it reveals about the country's relationship with war and memory, and how one former circus soldier came to see the circus not as a tool of the military, but as a path to freedom. Guests: Professional Soldier Luís Javier Cardenas, clown and trapeze artist with Circo ColombiaFranci Guzmán and Ana Pinzón, audience members at Circo Colombia show in Supatá, ColombiaRosa Elena González Moreno, Colombian Ministry of Culture Circus Program CoordinatorJonathan Hernández, professional circus artist and former soldier performer with Circo ColombiaOlga Lucía Sorzano, PhD, Colombian circus scholar and director of Artemotion Additional Resources: A Spanish-language report on the history of circus in Colombia. Tatan's Instagram account. Colombia's military circus, live, in the AP archive. DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.
