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The Reflection Room: Interpreting Live Television with Denise Bobadilha
•Mireya Perez•Season 7
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Welcome Back to the Reflection Room! This bite-sized episode offers a quick and engaging glimpse into the key highlights, thought-provoking moments, and valuable takeaways from Episode #108: The Emotional Toll and Triumphs of Live Interpreting with Denise Bobadilha. Designed for listeners on the go, The Reflection Room condenses the conversation into a brief, impactful reflection, perfect for sparking curiosity or revisiting the main ideas.
Tune in for an insightful recap and then dive into the full episode for the complete story!
Disclaimer: The audio in this episode has been enhanced using AI-generated elements. While every effort has been made to maintain the authenticity and quality of the content, the voices are not human-produced. Thank you for embracing this creative approach as we continue to innovate and explore new storytelling techniques.
Welcome back to the Reflection Room. This time we're going to be looking at something pretty interesting. Have you ever thought about all the work that goes into making sure you can understand the news?
Speaker 1:
Oh, yeah, for sure, especially when it comes from all over the world.
Speaker 2:
Well, today we're going to be looking specifically at broadcast interpreting for live television news and to help us with this, we're going to be taking a deep dive into the experiences of Denise Bobadilla, an experienced conference interpreter who works in this field, and she interprets Portuguese.
Speaker 1:
Wow. I mean, most people probably don't even think about the fact that someone's doing that. You know live.
Speaker 2:
Right, it's one of those things that's hidden in plain sight. You're watching the news and all of a sudden you're hearing a translator's voice, right. But you don't necessarily think about all the work that's going into it and especially all the pressure. I mean, can you imagine trying to interpret breaking news in real time, the whole world watching?
Speaker 1:
Yeah, that must be incredibly demanding. I mean, the stakes are so high. It's not like a casual conversation. You know, these are events that are shaping the world.
Speaker 2:
Absolutely, and what I find so fascinating about Denise's story is that she actually started out as a journalist herself. She spent 20 years covering all sorts of beats, from crime to tourism.
Speaker 1:
Really 20 years, that's a long time.
Speaker 2:
It is, it is and it makes you wonder. You know, did those years in journalism kind of give her an advantage when it came to navigating the fast-paced world of live news interpretation?
Speaker 1:
Oh, I bet it did. You know, journalists have to think on their feet, process information quickly, communicate clearly under pressure. Those are all essential skills for an interpreter, especially in a live broadcast setting.
Speaker 2:
And she actually talks about developing kind of an editor mindset in her work, which I thought was really insightful.
Speaker 1:
Editor mindset huh. What do you think she means by?
Speaker 2:
that suggest that she's not just interpreting words. You know she's thinking about the audience. She's trying to shape the message in a way that's clear, concise and engaging for viewers, just like an editor would.
Speaker 1:
Yeah. Yeah, I see what you mean. Like she's taking on that responsibility to ensure that the message is not only accurate, but also impactful.
Speaker 2:
Exactly. And it's not just about conveying information, you know. It's also about capturing the emotion, the nuances, the kind of things that can get lost in translation if you're not careful. I bet having that journalistic background really helps with that.
Speaker 1:
I would think so too. You know, being able to understand the bigger picture, the context surrounding the story, that's got to be crucial for accurately conveying the message.
Speaker 2:
Oh, absolutely, and you know that editor mindset might be one reason why she was able to land such a coveted role with CNN Brazil.
Speaker 1:
Oh wow, CNN Brazil. How did that come about?
Speaker 2:
Well, it seems like a bit of serendipity and a whole lot of savvy networking. When she heard that CNN Brazil was launching, she reached out to her old journalism contacts and was basically like hey, I'm an interpreter now.
Speaker 1:
And guess what You're going to need me. Wow, what a bold move. I mean good for her for recognizing the opportunity and going for it.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, I mean it paid off right. She got the gig in February 2020. And so her first live TV interpretation was a Democratic Party debate between Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden.
Speaker 1:
Wow, talk about jumping right into the deep end. A political debate on live TV. That must have been intense.
Speaker 2:
I can't even imagine. And then, just a few weeks later, the pandemic hit.
Speaker 1:
Oh gosh, so she went from a high stakes political debate to a global pandemic. That must have been a whirlwind of a few months. It was.
Speaker 2:
Suddenly she's interpreting live coverage of the pandemic, the science, the lockdowns, the economic fallout of the pandemic, the science, the lockdowns, the economic fallout.
Speaker 1:
It's heavy stuff, and she's dealing with it all in real time while also experiencing the pandemic herself. That's incredible. It makes you think about the emotional toll of that kind of work, especially during such a difficult and uncertain time. I mean, we talk about frontline workers, but interpreters are kind of on the front lines of information, aren't they? They're the ones processing and conveying these really intense and sometimes traumatic events.
Speaker 2:
It's so true, and you know, we often hear about secondary trauma in professions that deal with difficult or traumatic situations, like therapists and first responders. I wonder if interpreters, particularly those working in broadcast news, experience something similar working in broadcast news experience something similar, I'd say it's highly likely.
Speaker 1:
they're constantly exposed to these intense situations, these stories of suffering and loss, and they have to remain composed and focused while conveying that information accurately. It's got to have an impact.
Speaker 2:
Denise actually talks about the emotional toll of interpreting live coverage of the pandemic. She describes having to really focus on the message, on the facts, and kind of compartmentalize those emotions in the moment so that she can do her job effectively.
Speaker 1:
That makes sense. It's like a defense mechanism, a way to protect yourself from being overwhelmed by the emotional weight of what you're interpreting. But it also raises the question of how you process those emotions later on. You can't just bottle them up forever.
Speaker 2:
Right, it's got to come out eventually, yeah, so what did she say about how she copes with that? How does she disconnect from the weight of the news and recharge? Well, she emphasizes the importance of really simple things like spending time in nature, connecting with her family and making sure she gets some exercise, and she even has a kind of a pre-show ritual for particularly tough assignments. You know, just to kind of lighten the mood.
Speaker 1:
Oh really, what's that?
Speaker 2:
Watching cat videos on YouTube.
Speaker 1:
I love that. It's a good reminder that even in the most serious of professions, finding those moments of levity, of joy is so important.
Speaker 2:
Absolutely. It's about finding that balance right, Because the work can be so intense, so emotionally draining. You know, not every story she interpreted was about abstract statistics or scientific updates. There were some deeply personal stories that she shared that really stayed with her and I think they offer a really powerful glimpse into the human side of this work.
Speaker 1:
I'd love to hear about those stories, you know, the ones that transcend just the headlines and really touch on something deeper, something we can all connect to.
Speaker 2:
There's one that I found particularly moving, and I think you will too. It was about a father who had lost his entire family in the Ukraine war. Oh my God, and what he found out was just devastating. He saw a photo online, just a photo of their luggage, and he knew that's how he knew they were gone.
Speaker 1:
Oh wow, that is just heartbreaking. The power of a single image to convey so much loss is incredible and terrifying.
Speaker 2:
It really is. And Denise was interpreting this story live with the news anchor, visibly emotional, even crying, on air.
Speaker 1:
I can only imagine how challenging it must have been for her to remain composed while conveying the raw emotion of that moment. Did she talk about how she managed that?
Speaker 2:
She admitted that afterwards. She was shaking, couldn't speak and had to take a break.
Speaker 1:
That's understandable. It's a powerful reminder that this work demands incredible emotional resilience and it highlights that potential for vicarious trauma. You know the idea that we can be affected by other people's trauma even if we haven't directly experienced it ourselves.
Speaker 2:
It's like that concept of secondary trauma we talked about earlier.
Speaker 1:
Yeah.
Speaker 2:
And it makes you wonder are there specific strategies or resources available to help interpreters manage the emotional impact of this work?
Speaker 1:
I think that's an important question to explore. There's a growing body of research on vicarious trauma and its effects on various professions. It would be interesting to see what insights that research might offer for interpreters working in these high-stress environments.
Speaker 2:
It would be, because it's not just about individual coping mechanisms, is it? It's also about the responsibility of news organizations to provide adequate support and training to help their interpreters navigate these challenges.
Speaker 1:
Absolutely. It's about creating a work environment that recognizes the unique demands of this profession and provides the necessary resources to support those who are doing this vital work.
Speaker 2:
And you know, speaking of challenges, denise also opens up about something that I think a lot of people can relate to, regardless of their perfection imposter syndrome.
Speaker 1:
Imposter syndrome. Huh, Now how does that manifest for someone who's working at the top of their field, like Denise? I mean, she's interpreting for CNN. You don't get there by accident.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, it's that feeling like you know you don't really belong, like you're not as good as everyone thinks you are, like you're just waiting to be found out, Right, like at any moment someone's going to realize that you're a fraud, and it's so interesting how those feelings can persist even when, like in Denise's case, there's all this evidence to the contrary. I mean, she's working at a top news organization interpreting these high profile events. You would think that would be enough to silence those self-doubts.
Speaker 1:
You'd think so, wouldn't you? But it often doesn't work that way. So how does she deal with it?
Speaker 2:
Well, there's this one story. She tells about a conversation with her therapist. Her therapist asked her would you be where you are today if you were truly bad at this? Would you have all these clients, all these opportunities, all this recognition?
Speaker 1:
Wow, that's a really powerful question.
Speaker 2:
Right. I mean it really makes you stop and think, it forces you to kind of step outside of those negative thoughts and look at the evidence and your actual accomplishments.
Speaker 1:
Like sometimes. We need that outside perspective to help us see our own strengths, don't we?
Speaker 2:
We do. It's like we get so caught up in our own heads that we forget to acknowledge all the amazing things we've achieved.
Speaker 1:
Makes me think about Denise's background in journalism. You know, as a journalist you're trained to be objective, to look at the facts. Maybe that same approach helps her when it comes to assessing her own skills. It's like she can separate those imposter syndrome feelings from the reality of her experience and her success.
Speaker 2:
That's a great point. It's like she can apply that same journalistic rigor to her own self-evaluation.
Speaker 1:
Right, which is fascinating when you think about it. It shows how our past experiences can influence how we approach challenges in all sorts of unexpected ways.
Speaker 2:
And speaking of past experiences, you know, it's amazing how Denise seems to have carried that passion for storytelling, for connecting people with information, from her journalism career into her work as an interpreter.
Speaker 1:
Totally, and it comes through so clearly in the way she describes her work. She even uses this really beautiful metaphor she calls it matchmaking.
Speaker 2:
Matchmaking yeah, that's an interesting choice of words.
Speaker 1:
Right, and what she means by that is that she sees herself as connecting people with information, with understanding, even in the midst of chaos. That's so powerful. It really captures the essence of what interpreters do, doesn't it? They're creating those connections that allow people to understand each other, even in the most difficult of circumstances.
Speaker 2:
It's so true, and you know she gets the most amazing feedback from viewers people who write in and say things like thank you, I wouldn't know what was going on in the world without your voice. It makes you realize that, even though they're often working behind the scenes, interpreters are really shaping public discourse, influencing how we understand and respond to events around the world.
Speaker 1:
It's a reminder that their work is so essential, so valuable, even if we don't always see it. So as we kind of wrap up this deep dive into the world of broadcast interpreting, I'm curious what advice does Denise have for someone who's just starting out in this field?
Speaker 2:
She actually keeps it pretty simple. She says keep studying and take risks. It really speaks to that idea of continuous learning, of pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone.
Speaker 1:
And embracing those challenges right, Because that's where growth happens.
Speaker 2:
Exactly and you know it's a perfect reflection of her own journey. I mean, she transitioned from a successful career in journalism to this whole other world of broadcast interpreting. Talk about a risk, but she did it. She embraced that challenge and she found a way to really align her passion with her skills.
Speaker 1:
And that's what makes this deep dive so compelling. It's not just about the technical side of broadcast interpreting. It's about the human story behind it. It's about courage and resilience and the power of those invisible roles to really shape our understanding of the world.
Speaker 2:
So well said, it's been an incredible journey exploring this hidden world of broadcast interpreting.
Speaker 1:
I couldn't agree more, and I think it leaves us with some really important questions to consider. You know, what role does live interpretation play in shaping public perception? How do those subtle choices, those nuances in language affect how viewers understand and connect with a story?
Speaker 2:
Yeah, those are big questions.
Speaker 1:
They are. I mean, it's so easy to just take for granted the work that goes into making information accessible across languages and cultures, you know. But, as we've heard from Denise, those decisions that interpreters make, they really do matter. They have the power to shape our understanding of really complex issues.
Speaker 2:
Absolutely, and you know, it can even influence our emotional responses to a story and how we engage with the world around us.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 2:
So the next time you're watching a news report and you see an interpreter, you know really pay attention not just to the words but to everything else that's being communicated.
Speaker 1:
The emotion, the tone, the pauses all of it.
Speaker 2:
Think about the decisions that interpreters making in real time to try to convey not just the information but the feeling, the context, the human story behind the words.
Speaker 1:
It's really quite a skill.
Speaker 2:
It is. It's a reminder that there's so many people working behind the scenes to help us understand the world around us, and their work is so important.
Speaker 1:
It really is.
Speaker 2:
So, as we wrap up, I want to leave you with this thought what if, like Denise, you know, we all try to approach our lives with that same kind of curiosity, that same willingness to keep learning, to take risks?
Speaker 1:
Oh, I like that.
Speaker 2:
I think we could all learn a lot from her story.
Speaker 1:
And who knows, maybe we'll even discover some hidden talents or passions along the way. Well said, this has been such a fascinating conversation and, who knows, maybe your story will be our next reflection in the Reflection Room.
Speaker 2:
We'd love to hear your thoughts, so share your reflections and insights with us on social media. Thanks for joining us in the Reflection Room, where we delve into inspiring stories and uncover the wisdom that can guide us on our own unique paths. We'll catch you next time.
