Media & Interviews

I am one of the academics featured in Humans of Humanities, a short documentary showcasing the voices of students, alumni, and scholars from the Leiden Faculty of Humanities. In the film, I discuss the consequences of inequality when left unaddressed by political leaders and what happens when people stop waiting for change and take action themselves. The documentary highlights the critical role of Humanities research in making sense of these pressing global challenges. 

I joined Pedro Páez in a podcast episode to discuss structural and direct violence in Ecuador within the context of criminal capitalism and authoritarian neoliberalism. We explored how the state's shift towards a more coercive role has not managed to curtail direct violence while obscuring structural forms of harm linked to state neglect. Drawing on ethnographic research, I also discussed how securitised public policies have prioritised control over social welfare, exacerbating inequalities and intersecting with gender-based and racial violence.

I joined the Cold War Research Network podcast to discuss how the Cold War in Latin America was not just a U.S.-Soviet standoff but a period of deep transformation, shaping violence, economic restructuring, and power dynamics that still resonate today. We examined Latin American agency in revolutionary and counterrevolutionary struggles and how financial institutions enforced policies that redefined governance, drawing connections to today's shifting global order.

In this episode of Alternativas, togetheter with Andrés Mideros we join host Pedro Páez to discuss alternative development models and social policy in Ecuador over the past four decades. We examine how shifting political and economic paradigms—from neoliberal adjustments to progressive redistributive policies—have shaped poverty, inequality, and social protection in the country.  

In this podcast episode of GDP-The Global Development Primer, I discuss the escalating violence in Ecuador, examining how shifting narco-trafficking routes, economic instability, structural inequalities, and rising poverty have contributed to the country's current crisis. I explore the structural causes behind this turmoil and reflect on what needs to be considered to move beyond fear and insecurity

In this episode, I discuss social policy and poverty alleviation in Latin America, focusing on Ecuador. The conversation explores the role of Conditional Cash Transfers in addressing poverty, their limitations, and their impact on social inclusion. We also examine the potential of Universal Basic Income in Ecuador and its implications for the country's welfare system. Through a critical political economy lens, I reflect on how social policies shape political subjectivities, social identities, and broader structures of exclusion and informality. 

In this episode, I join host Monika and student Nicole Kadlec to discuss the future of education in a world of micro-chips and social scoring. We explore how these technologies could reinforce inequality and reshape access to education.

In this episode, I joined Radio8Raddio for a discussion on economic foreignisation in Latin America, exploring how historical and contemporary forms of external influence shape the region's economies. We examined the legacies of European colonisation, the persistence of economic dependency, and the ways in which foreign actors—whether states, corporations, or financial institutions—continue to impact Latin America's development.