EPISODE · Apr 14, 2026 · 1 MIN
The Middleman
from Uptown Radio · host Uptown Radio
Finalists in Columbia Journalism's School 2026 Radio Race Transcript: AUTOMATED SELF-CHECK-OUT MACHINE: Thank you for shopping at Wegmans. [COLD WIND] TOMÁS: El invierno es donde más se gana. Winter is when you earn the most. [DOORDASHER BIKE ZIPS THROUGH THE WINDY STREETS] Ganamos por entrega. We earn by delivery. Estamos en contra del tiempo. We are racing against time. Mi nombre es Tomás. Soy de Guatemala. Trabajo de DoorDash de semanas y trabajo en ‘warehouse’ de lunes a viernes. My name is Tomás. I'm from Guatemala. On the weekends, I’m a Doordasher. And from Monday to Friday, I work in a warehouse. ¿Cómo lidiar con el cansancio? Ah, a mí me lidiana mucho el vino, pero Mi futuro es esto: trabajar duro. How do I cope with exhaustion? Uh. Well, wine helps me cope, but this is my future: working hard. Hay que andar con casco, las luces, y respetar las señales. Wear a helmet, use lights, and respect the signs. [SOUNDS OF TRAFFIC] Si usted respeta eso, no pasa nada. If you follow that, you’ll be safe. [CAR BEEP] Me la paso más en Manhattan. Mi área es bajo por la World Trade Center. I work mostly in Manhattan. My area is near the World Trade Center. Lo que más me gusta es que me distraigo bastante. En las calles. Entro en diferentes restaurantes [y] supermercados. My favorite part of this job is that I entertain myself a lot. I’m outside in the streets. I go into many different restaurants and supermarkets. [MONTAGE OF DELIVERIES] [BIKECHAIN LOCKS] Y lo malo es que los clientes no contestan, no abren la puerta, te toca llamar al servicio al cliente. Entonces ahí perdemos mucho tiempo. Eso es lo malo. And my least favorite part is when customers don't answer, or they don't open the door, and you have to call the App’s customer service. That’s where a lot of time is wasted. That's the bad part. [APARTMENT BUZZ] Muchos edificios así, viejos, toca subir, caminar seis [o] cinco pisos, [y] bajar. Many buildings like this, old, you have to go up, walk six or five floors, and then come down. Entre más hacemos, más ganamos, pero hace como dos años, ya no dan tips. Raro que te den $2, $3. Ya no. Ya nadie quiere dar tips. The more we do, the more we earn. But, it's been about two years since they stopped giving tips. Rarely do they give you $2 or $3. Nobody wants to tip anymore. [FOOTSTEPS WALKING UP FLIGHTS OF STAIRS] Hi. [DOOR OPENS] May I have your ID please? [HEAVY BREATHING]
What this episode covers
Finalists in Columbia Journalism's School 2026 Radio Race Transcript: AUTOMATED SELF-CHECK-OUT MACHINE: Thank you for shopping at Wegmans. [COLD WIND] TOMÁS: El invierno es donde más se gana. Winter is when you earn the most. [DOORDASHER BIKE ZIPS THROUGH THE WINDY STREETS] Ganamos por entrega. We earn by delivery. Estamos en contra del tiempo. We are racing against time. Mi nombre es Tomás. Soy de Guatemala. Trabajo de DoorDash de semanas y trabajo en ‘warehouse’ de lunes a viernes. My name is Tomás. I'm from Guatemala. On the weekends, I’m a Doordasher. And from Monday to Friday, I work in a warehouse. ¿Cómo lidiar con el cansancio? Ah, a mí me lidiana mucho el vino, pero Mi futuro es esto: trabajar duro. How do I cope with exhaustion? Uh. Well, wine helps me cope, but this is my future: working hard. Hay que andar con casco, las luces, y respetar las señales. Wear a helmet, use lights, and respect the signs. [SOUNDS OF TRAFFIC] Si usted respeta eso, no pasa nada. If you follow that, you’ll be safe. [CAR BEEP] Me la paso más en Manhattan. Mi área es bajo por la World Trade Center. I work mostly in Manhattan. My area is near the World Trade Center. Lo que más me gusta es que me distraigo bastante. En las calles. Entro en diferentes restaurantes [y] supermercados. My favorite part of this job is that I entertain myself a lot. I’m outside in the streets. I go into many different restaurants and supermarkets. [MONTAGE OF DELIVERIES] [BIKECHAIN LOCKS] Y lo malo es que los clientes no contestan, no abren la puerta, te toca llamar al servicio al cliente. Entonces ahí perdemos mucho tiempo. Eso es lo malo. And my least favorite part is when customers don't answer, or they don't open the door, and you have to call the App’s customer service. That’s where a lot of time is wasted. That's the bad part. [APARTMENT BUZZ] Muchos edificios así, viejos, toca subir, caminar seis [o] cinco pisos, [y] bajar. Many buildings like this, old, you have to go up, walk six or five floors, and then come down. Entre más hacemos, más ganamos, pero hace como dos años, ya no dan tips. Raro que te den $2, $3. Ya no. Ya nadie quiere dar tips. The more we do, the more we earn. But, it's been about two years since they stopped giving tips. Rarely do they give you $2 or $3. Nobody wants to tip anymore. [FOOTSTEPS WALKING UP FLIGHTS OF STAIRS] Hi. [DOOR OPENS] May I have your ID please? [HEAVY BREATHING]
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The Middleman
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