¡NBN en Español!: A Conversation with the NBNes Editors
Three more press partners and an interview about NBN en Español with Pamela Fuentes and Paula de la Cruz-Fernández.
Georgetown, Texas, and Nevada
New Books Network is excited to add three more press partners. Check out the Georgetown University Press Podcast, Off the Record with UT Press, and the University of Nevada Press Podcast. All three presses produce excellent books and don’t get nearly as much attention as they deserve. Check out their feeds to see what they’re all publishing:
NBN en Español
Pamela Fuentes and Paula de la Cruz-Fernández are the editors of NBN en Español.
Q: How did you first get involved with the New Books Network?
Paula: I first saw the New Books Network in the middle of the pandemic. I was finishing writing my book and came up with one reference from the New Books Network. I also realized that the New Books Network at that time didn't have an economic and business history channel, even though many books in history and even in economics could definitely have been labeled as such. I'm also the web editor of the Business History Conference, and during that time we were thinking about a podcast, and I thought that requesting a category for that would be very helpful for the association and its members. I became a host of the New Books Network at the end of 2020. At that time, I also spoke with Marshall Poe about a Spanish channel which I thought would have a wide welcome from the community.
Pamela: In 2018, I came across an announcement on H-Net that piqued my interest, and I decided to contact Marshall to become a host for the Latin American Studies channel. I had been interested in sharing content in audio format since I was a teenager. This seemed like a perfect opportunity to read books that interested me, talk with colleagues about their research, and also have the opportunity to contribute to a public history project. When Marshall hinted at the prospect of establishing New Books Network en Español, I did not hesitate to be part of this initiative. Working with Paula has been a great experience. We both come from academic backgrounds, but her experience as a digital consultant has been particularly enriching!
Q: When did NBN en Español start and what were some of the challenges in launching the network?
Paula: New Books Network en Español started in 2021. Initially, we sent out a call for hosts via H-Net and other networks that both Pamela and I had. We got perhaps 30 to 40 hosts at first coming from all places in Latin America and worldwide. That's probably one of the best things about NBNes: you can hear Spanish spoken by so many people. That is not only beautiful but also enlightening and so useful to hear all the different experts from around the world speaking your language. Some of the challenges were and continue to be getting the right promotion. For example, our growth in hosts has been increasing but has also slowed because there's no such thing as a global H-Net.
Pamela: I agree with the notion that there is immense richness in listening to interviews that feature a diverse range of accents, as well as the wide array of topics and interests showcased in conversations about knowledge production in Spanish or about Latin America, Spain, and other parts of the world. Earlier this year, Marshall highlighted the economic hurdles that the podcast industry is currently encountering. In this regard, we commend Marshall for his dedication to sustaining NBNes, and we are enthusiastic about contributing our time and efforts to the project, with the aspiration that it will flourish as a successful extension of the New Books Network, allowing us to dedicate even more time to its growth and development.
Paula: The best part about running NBNes for me has been connecting with so many experts and very committed academics, readers, and podcasters worldwide. There is so much research being published in Spanish, but also there is so much interest for research to be explained and broadcasted in Spanish. We have published interviews about a lot of books that are written in English but with Spanish-speaking authors. Their research and books are getting out there, and they recognize this outreach is so important. It’s also probably the first step towards translation. I work as an editor, and as a digital presence consultant, and understanding how publications get to the right audience has been extremely useful.
One of the most rewarding aspects of my role as an editor at NBNes has been collaborating with Pamela Fuentes and learning more about the world of podcasting and scholarly digital communications.
Pamela: NBNes has allowed me to learn from both hosts and guests. Their varied interests have introduced me to amazing subjects that were previously unfamiliar to me. Moreover, witnessing their passion for their research and fostering learning communities, particularly in collaboration with our academic partners, has been inspiring. A highlight for me is observing professors incorporate episodes from the network into their classes, underscoring the practical impact and educational value of the content.
Q: What are some ways that the New Books Network is promoting Spanish language books and increasing access to scholarly materials in the Spanish-speaking world?
Paula: It is much more common to find open-access research in Latin America than in the Anglo-Saxon world. However, this research, even in open access, doesn’t always gets the right reach. For me, it’s important that we are not only showcasing Spanish-speakers, but we are also putting out information about reliable research conducted in Spanish.
Pamela: Another noteworthy aspect to highlight is our openness to publishing episodes in various Ibero-American languages. By doing so, we aim to showcase the rich diversity of interconnected communities across the Americas and the Iberian peninsula. Furthermore, the podcast format enables us to reach audiences worldwide, serving as an additional avenue for promoting the initiatives of universities and publishing houses. This not only expands our reach but also enhances the global visibility of the content we produce.
Q: How many episodes does the New Books Network publish a month? How many since the network launched?
We publish between eight and ten a month, although there are months that are less productive, especially in July, August, and September. Since the network launched, we have published about 450 episodes.
Q: What's one of the most memorable interviews you've done?
Pamela: This is a difficult question, because I am very fond of all the interviews I have done, however, I must admit that I am especially excited about my upcoming interview with Francesca Lessa (for the second time). During our previous conversation, she shared insightful details about her extensive research on the Condor Trials, focusing on repression and human rights issues in South America. Recently, she joined efforts with the talented artist and illustrator, Sebastián Santana, to produce a book shedding light on the Condor Plan and Human Rights, tailored for a wide audience.
Paula: Pamela’s interview with Francesca Lessa is one of my favorites – I recommend it for any Latin American history class. I very much enjoyed interviewing Professor Susie Porter, whose work was pivotal for my research. We talked about her book De ángel del hogar a oficinista. We also recorded an interview for NBN in English. My interview with Dr. Gabriela Recio Cavazos was incredibly interesting as well. Don Eugenio Garza Sada: Ideas, acción, legado tells the story of the prominent Mexican businessperson Eugenio Garza Sada and the history of the Mexican brewing industry.
Q: What are your plans for broadening the reach of New Books Network in Español?
Our goal is to get all university presses and universities around the world to know that they have a space within New Books Network en Español to promote the important work that their researchers do.
We will continue our promotion on YouTube and social media.
Q: What are you reading now?
Paula: The last two books I read are La cabeza de mi padre y Catedrales. Now I am reading Un verdor terrible by Benjamín Labatut.
Pamela: I am reading El Invencible Verano de Liliana by Cristina Rivera Garza.
