Podcast Summary: "Miss Experiencia | Berta, pasión por la enseñanza y el teatro"

Podcast: Hoy por Hoy (SER Podcast)
Host(s): Àngels Barceló, Chema Rodríguez
Guest: Berta
Date: December 9, 2025

Overview

This episode of "Hoy por Hoy" spotlights Berta, an 84-year-old retired primary school teacher whose lifelong devotion to education and the performing arts embodies the wisdom, resilience, and vibrancy of her generation. Through anecdotes and candid reflections, Berta discusses her journey balancing the roles of mother, educator, and community theater director, all while overcoming the cultural and familial constraints placed on women in mid-20th century Spain. The episode highlights the value of intergenerational storytelling and the enduring power of passion in later life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Club de las Miss Experiencia and Listener Participation

• The episode opens with a description of "El Club de las Miss Experiencia," which gives voice to senior women, many of whom are unsung heroines with invaluable life stories.
• Chema Rodríguez invites listeners to suggest remarkable women for future episodes via WhatsApp, emphasizing the show's aim to acknowledge and honor these women.

  “Esta es una ventana que abrimos para dar a conocer a una generación de mujeres que no lo ha tenido nada fácil para hacerse escuchar.” (Chema Rodríguez, 01:04)

2. Introducing Berta: Life Story and Early Passions

• Berta, nominated by her cousin María Ángeles, is described as energetic and passionate, especially about theater and music. She splits her year between Alcalá de Henares and Novellana, Asturias, where she leads amateur theater groups (01:50).
• As a child, Berta was a lead singer at school and initiated music groups—echoing a lifelong connection to performance (02:56).

3. Navigating Family Expectations and Societal Norms

• Berta recalls wanting to pursue a performing career, but her strict, traditional parents—her father a military man—did not support this ambition (03:42).

  "En aquellos tiempos, mis padres... yo como Concha Velasco, decía yo quiero ser artista. Pero no, no hubo posibilidad.” (Berta, 03:51)

• Her family, and the era’s expectations, made it hard for Berta to follow her artistic dreams, instead directing her toward helping in family businesses before she could finally study teaching (04:52).

4. Path to Teaching and Bringing Art into the Classroom

• Despite initial setbacks, Berta eventually pursued her true calling—education. She blended her love for the stage with teaching, transforming her classes into lively, theatrical experiences (05:31).

  “Conseguí mezclar las dos cosas, porque tú dabas las clases como si fuera una función de teatro.” (Interviewer, 07:25)
  “Efectivamente, lo pasábamos muy bien.” (Berta, 07:32)

• The impact she had on her students is lasting; former pupils, now in their fifties, affectionately greet her on the street (07:38).

5. Personal Resilience: Family and Loss

• Berta recounts her roots, dividing time between Alcalá and her ancestral home in Novellana, Asturias; family tradition and community remain deeply important (08:10).
• She shares her experience of widowhood, losing her husband young and raising four children (09:31). Despite adversity, her children thrived, each graduating with a law degree, and Berta is a grandmother to seven (09:56).

  “Me quedé viuda con 48 años y con cuatro hijos, pero... unos hijos maravillosos.” (Berta, 09:31)

6. Theater as Lifelong Passion and Community Engagement

• Berta continues to direct several theater groups, working with children, adults, and seniors, often staging plays that her students perform for children in hospitals or local communities (11:04).

  “He hecho obras para los niños, los he llevado al Hospital del Niño Jesús para que dieran su arte... Y luego ya empecé con los adultos.” (Berta, 11:06)

• In her home village, Novellana, the association “Novellana Viva” embodies communal spirit and volunteerism through the arts (12:00).

7. Energy, Anecdotes, and Unstoppable Spirit

• Berta is identified as a local character, full of stories and movement—her enthusiasm is palpable, even in conversation. Despite age, she is determined to keep going as long as she can (12:28).

  “No paro y mientras que puedo voy a seguir.” (Berta, 12:55)

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• On Passion and Perseverance:

  “Mientras que pueda, voy a seguir.” (Berta, 12:55)

• On Education & Performance:

  “Mis clases eran como una función de teatro.” (Berta, 07:32)

• On Losing Her Husband:

  “Me quedé viuda con 48 años y con cuatro hijos, pero con unos hijos maravillosos.” (Berta, 09:31)

• On Family Support:

  “Siempre han entendido... hemos sido una piña.” (Berta, 06:31)

• On Her Vibrant Personality:

  “No me veis, pero estoy hablando y yo estoy moviéndome.” (Berta, 12:43)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction & Purpose of "Miss Experiencia": 00:24 – 01:34
• Berta’s Early Life, Singing, Theater in School: 01:50 – 03:31
• Struggles Against Societal Expectations: 03:42 – 04:52
• Transition to Teaching, Merging Theater & Education: 05:31 – 07:38
• Life between Alcalá and Asturias, Family Roots: 08:10 – 09:22
• Coping with Widowhood, Family Achievements: 09:31 – 09:56
• Ongoing Work with Theater Groups: 10:09 – 11:47
• Community Recognition, Energy, Closing Statements: 12:28 – 13:10

Conclusion

In this episode, Berta encapsulates the enduring power of passion and resilience. Her story is not just a narrative of personal achievement and loss, but a testament to how following one’s passion, even within rigid societal norms, can create lasting intergenerational impact. Her voice—full of energy, wit, and wisdom—is a celebration of women whose legacies deserve to be heard.