Chad Damord - Carel Padre

·57 min·5 clips

Who is Karel Pedre, the Haitian radio and TV host who became the de facto voice of a nation after the 2010 earthquake?

The episode is an interview between host Chad and guest Karel Pedre, a prominent Haitian radio and TV host. Chad introduces Karel as a long-awaited guest with a significant media career. Karel begins by sharing his background: he is 43, born in Port-de-Paix, and started radio at 16. He moved to Port-au-Prince to study computer science with dreams of becoming a video game programmer, but radio took over. He explains his entry into radio through a social studies teacher's summer internship. Karel describes his early career at Radio Planète Créole, where he initially worked as a reporter tracking market prices. His big break came when he had to unexpectedly host a live Mother's Day show, leading to a permanent on-air role. He later joined Radio One in 2005, balancing it with a job at the World Health Organization before going full-time. Karel discusses the transformative impact of the 2010 earthquake, where he became a key reporter for international media like CNN, describing the responsibility he felt. The conversation shifts to his radio philosophy: he refused to be labeled as a specific genre host, instead playing a wide variety of Haitian and international music to create an inclusive platform. Karel explains he stopped regular broadcasting due to COVID-19 and the worsening political and social climate in Haiti, which made it difficult to maintain a morning show's upbeat tone. He critiques current Haitian media, particularly internet-based shows, for lacking preparation and substance compared to traditional radio. Finally, Karel reveals a new project: preserving the legacies of iconic Haitian musicians through in-depth interviews, a trophy ceremony, and a coffee table book, aiming to honor living legends often overlooked.

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