‘Now I talk, I don’t just read texts’, says Carlos Tramontina, ex-Globo, when he becomes a podcaster

It was only for journalist Carlos Tramontina, 67, to leave Globo, in April 2022, for the company where he worked for more than 40 years to start firing medallions from journalism, sports and dramaturgy. The presenter left “in common agreement” with the broadcaster and now begins a new phase at the head of two podcasts, bringing with him a certainty: no one can consider himself eternal on TV.

“I noticed that the broadcaster would rejuvenate itself. It’s part of the game. We cannot think that we will be eternal. After the Covid confinement, I myself began to ask myself how long the channel would want me, if it wasn’t time for me to try other paths” he says to F5.

On the 15th, the journalist will debut Tramonta News, a podcast by Estúdios Flow where he will be able to “talk, and no longer read texts”. And anyone who thinks he cares about a possible cancellation for the opinions he can give live is wrong.

“I’m not connected to a political party, I never was, I’m not a PT or Bolsonarist, I’m a realist, whatever I have to say about politics, behavior and decisions by authorities or groups, I’ll say it”, says the journalist, who celebrates another novelty in his life: the chance to take 15 days off to go on a family trip, something unimaginable throughout his 43 years on open TV. “I didn’t know the world outside Globo until I left it.”

Was it difficult to make the decision to leave the company where you worked for so long?

When I looked for direction, my departure by the end of that year was something consolidated in my mind. I reached out to them at the end of January 2022 and was told I would be staying until April. I ended up officially leaving on May 2nd. It was a smooth move and at a high level.

Were you afraid of being fired before going out on your own?

Here is a clarification: When I consolidated the idea that I could leave, I was not afraid of being fired, also because my departure came at a stage when there were not many layoffs. Before me, Alberto Gaspar left. Chico Pinheiro left the same week as me, so there was no fear. Open TV is looking for a new audience, a new way of speaking. Anyone who thinks it will stay on screen forever is completely wrong. I always received proposals to make other demands and I never could, because I had commitments with the company. Now [em podcast] I talk, I don’t read texts anymore, that makes all the difference, it changes the dynamic of the encounter.

How are your podcasts?

I premiered Portas Abertas, a podcast where I interview a guest, who can be a celebrity or not, an authority or not, a known person or not, but who has stories, experiences, adventures and emotions. And on June 15th I start Tramonta News: a guest and I comment on news and events, not necessarily of the day, but relevant and interesting subjects. Everything is possible on a podcast. The first airs on Tuesdays at 4 pm and the second on Thursdays at 4 pm [no canal do YouTube Flow News].

Podcasts generally target a younger audience. Aren’t you afraid of being seen as an ‘uncle’?

At first, yes (laughs), the big guy, because I’m 67 years old. And recently there was that story of the ‘6 and bus’ meme that was adopted by young people and today in the streets people don’t recognize me as Tramontina from Globo, but the Tramontina from ‘6 and bus’. I went to CCXP and was stopped to take a photo because of this meme. So, if on the one hand I’m of a certain age and I’m way ahead of anyone in the podcast business, on the other hand it’s a discovery.

And a possible cancellation in your opinion, does it bother you?

I think about it, yes, I couldn’t not think about it, but I’m not afraid either. I’m not connected to a political party, I never was, I’m not a PT or Bolsonarist, I’m a realist, whatever I have to say about politics, behavior and decisions by authorities or groups, I’ll say it. I just know that I should avoid adjectives as much as possible, as they often distort and bend reasoning. Saying what I think based on facts is not the problem. Some will find it good, some won’t, and that’s part of the game.

It’s a great professional challenge, isn’t it?

Perhaps the biggest of my career. I stayed at Globo for 43 years and started to master the technique and get to know the characteristics of my work in depth. But on podcasts I literally take one outfit off and put on another. I even had to buy sportswear, as I only had suits. I got to have 11 of them in use and I wouldn’t repeat them. White dress shirts I have 10, hundreds of ties. But that became past. Now it’s just a T-shirt, shorts and sneakers.

Cases of people who decide to chart other career paths and see life change as a whole are not rare. It happened to you?

Yes. I recently returned from California where I went to see my sister, and in two months I’m going with my children, my wife and granddaughter for another 15-day trip. Now I have freedom, a much better quality of life. And the suits are saved for official events. I got rid of some, gave it a makeover. I redid my wardrobe. I didn’t know the world outside Globo until I left it.