Podcast Summary: La entrevista de Pablo Rivero en Cuerpos especiales

Podcast: Cuerpos especiales (Europa FM)
Hosts: Eva Soriano, Nacho García, Lalachús
Guest: Pablo Rivero
Date: 29 January 2026

Overview

In this engaging episode, the Cuerpos especiales team welcomes acclaimed Spanish actor and author Pablo Rivero to talk about his highly anticipated ninth novel, La canguro. The conversation dives deep into Rivero’s writing process, themes surrounding trust and domestic life in thrillers, his approach to genre, and the unique ways his books resonate with modern readers. The discussion is interspersed with humor and camaraderie, creating a lively atmosphere as Rivero reveals behind-the-scenes details, discusses potential adaptations, and participates in a playful literary game with the hosts.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Pablo Rivero’s Literary Journey

• Icebreaker and Praise ([00:00]-[01:55])

  • Hosts welcome Rivero, showering him with compliments on his prolific writing career.
    • “Eres mi Jane Austen, Jo.” — Eva ([00:24])
    • Rivero responds, “Jolín, muchas gracias.”
  • The hosts discuss their genuine appreciation for his work, mentioning how addictively engaging his thrillers are.
    • “Tus libros tienen una fórmula que yo no sé cómo lo haces.” — Eva ([00:57])

• Reconnecting Readers ([01:11]-[01:55])

  • Rivero counts one of his greatest achievements as helping readers overcome “bloqueo lector.”
    • “Me he reconciliado, tenía un bloqueo lector y me lo he bebido.” — Pablo ([01:11])

• Writing Process ([02:01]-[03:54])

  • Rivero shares insights on his fast pace (“menos de un año” por novela) and how contracts and planning work for him.
  • He describes his approach as a mix of planning and inspiration, placing great importance on the perspective (“cómo la cuentas”) and using multiple narrators for La canguro.
    • “Hay tantas verdades como puntos de vista… cada uno tiene su verdad y sus motivos, pero los hechos son los que hay y sobre todo los sangrientos.” — Pablo ([03:15])

2. Deep Dive into La canguro

• Premise and Influences ([04:08]-[04:56])

  • The novel centers around a mysterious babysitter (la canguro) entering a home, touching on themes of trust, familiarity, and the subversion of caregiver tropes.
    • “El reto era reinterpretar el género… cuando dices la canguro, todo el mundo piensa la mano que mece la cuna…” — Pablo ([04:24])

• Everyday Horror & Domestic Tension ([05:00]-[06:57])

  • Rivero highlights how the most terrifying scenarios often come from what should be safe:
    • “A mí lo que más miedo me da es que te pase algo dentro de tu casa, que se supone que es el sitio más seguro…” — Pablo ([05:00])
  • The plot includes everyday conflicts—motherhood, working life, and economic factors like paying in “negro.”
    • “Una de las tramas es que ella tiene que volver a trabajar... pero oculta un secreto y no puede meter a nadie en casa…” — Pablo ([05:38])

• Comparisons and Genre Positioning ([06:12]-[07:11])

  • Rivero comments on the comparisons to La asistenta and emphasizes the more local, realistic nature of his thrillers.
    • “Es más nuestro, no es tan a la americana, es un poco más realista…” — Pablo ([07:00])

3. Marketing Fun: Dramatized Synopsis

• Live Reading ([07:19]-[08:11])
  • The team reads a suspenseful synopsis of La canguro with dramatic effects, highlighting its intrigue and setting the mood for potential audiobook adaptation.
    • “De lo contrario, me veré obligada a actuar.” — Pablo ([08:06])

4. The Nature of Fear and Realism in Thrillers

• Domestic vs. Supernatural Horror ([08:38]-[09:54])

  • Rivero explains why psychologically realistic threats are scarier than supernatural elements:
    • “A mí lo que me da miedo es lo que sucede en la vida real, que es que normalmente el culpable está en tu entorno.” — Pablo ([08:58])
  • The discussion explores how conflict and danger often come from familiar people—partners, children, or even oneself.
    • “El peligro podemos llegar a ser nosotros mismos ante determinadas circunstancias.” — Pablo ([09:25])

• Parental Competition & Delegation ([10:36]-[12:05])

  • Rivero discusses themes of parental insecurity and the complexities of delegating caregiving.
    • “Queremos lo mejor para nuestros hijos, pero que no sea mejor que nosotros.” — Pablo ([10:36])
  • Conversation turns to real-life delegation and the role of grandparents, paralleling situations in the novel.

5. Adaptations and Creative Control

• On Selling Adaptation Rights ([12:05]-[13:28])
  • Rivero reveals he’s sold adaptation rights for two books, discussing the long, complex development process.
    • “He vendido lo que es la cesión para que desarrollen el proyecto y se haga esto.” — Pablo ([12:13])
  • Reflects on letting professionals from other disciplines handle their part of a project to achieve the best outcome.

6. Literary Game: Guessing Page Counts

• Game Segment ([14:05]-[16:52])
  • Hosts quiz Rivero by giving synopses and asking if the novels have more or less than 384 pages—a playful nod to the length of La canguro.
  • Noteworthy moments:
    • “Ulises, de James Joyce… Yo en la universidad.” — Pablo ([15:22])
    • “Esto es Stranger Things.” (joking guess about El Señor de los Anillos) — Pablo ([16:25])

Notable Quotes

• “Hay tantas verdades como puntos de vista cuando sucede un crimen… los hechos son lo que hay y sobre todo los sangrientos.”
  — Pablo Rivero [03:15]

• “A mí lo que me da miedo es que te pase algo dentro de tu casa, que se supone que es el sitio más seguro…”
  — Pablo Rivero [05:00]

• “El peligro podemos llegar a ser nosotros mismos ante determinadas circunstancias.”
  — Pablo Rivero [09:25]

• “Queremos lo mejor para nuestros hijos, pero que no sea mejor que nosotros.”
  — Pablo Rivero [10:36]

Memorable Moments & Atmosphere

• Warm and playful banter throughout, especially as Eva and Nacho praise Rivero’s writing.
• Rivero playfully self-deprecating about his acting and writing (“Jo, ya actúo fatal... me habéis jubilado” [08:15]).
• The dramatized synopsis with “chan chan” music adds a layer of theatricality and fun ([07:19]-[08:11]).
• The quiz segment provides laughs and light-hearted literary references, ending the episode on a high note.

Important Timestamps

• [00:00] — Introduction and praise for Pablo Rivero
• [03:15] — Discussion on narrative choices and multiple perspectives in thrillers
• [04:24] — On subverting the “babysitter thriller” and familiar tropes
• [05:00] — Domestic space as source of fear
• [07:19] — Dramatized synopsis reading of La canguro
• [08:58] — Why real people as threats are scarier than the supernatural
• [10:36] — Parental competition and childcare delegation
• [12:05] — Film/TV adaptation discussions and creative collaboration
• [14:05] — Literary quiz about book page counts
• [16:52] — Final thanks and episode close

Conclusion

This episode of Cuerpos especiales showcases not only Pablo Rivero’s deep understanding of the psychological thriller genre but also the warmth and chemistry between him and the show’s hosts. Discussions about the creative process, the relatable anxieties that fuel his books, and the joy of storytelling make this a must-listen for book lovers, thriller fans, and anyone interested in what makes great contemporary fiction tick.