The ConsEUmer Podcast

In this week's episode, Fabio Fernandes joins us to talk about the latest news in tech gadgets, and about the call by Members of the European Parliament to act on dynamic pricing for FIFA World Cup tickets. April 2, 2026 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The President of KEFIM joins us from Athens this week to lay out the details of the government's taxi reform, and where he thinks leaders should go much further. March 26, 2026 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we are joined by Dr. Antonios Nestoras from EPIC. He is the editor on a European Liberal Forum paper on liberal housing policy. What could help Europe's housing crisis? Find the paper here: https://liberalforum.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Building-Freedom.pdf More about EPIC: https://thinkepic.eu/ March 19, 2026 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yaël Ossowski discusses the latest contoversies surrounding encrypted messaging and keeping good digital hygiene in the latest episode of the ConsEUmer podcast. March 12, 2026 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the latest episode of the ConsEUmer podcast, Zoltán Kész and Bill Wirtz discuss the implications of the upcoming elections in Hungary. N.B.: Just realised I didn't upload properly, and this didn't come out last week as intended. Apologies! February 12, 2026 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the latest episode of the ConsEUmer podcast, Bill Wirtz and Mike Salem tackle the conversation surrounding courier services around the world. What are our expectations of e-commerce? January 22, 2026 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liz Hayes joins us this week to zoom out and discuss our daily commute. Where does public transit make sense, and what are the key differences between Europe and the U.S? January 15, 2026 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fabio Fernandes joins us on the ConsEUmer podcast this week to discuss a Politico article about Italian "gastronationalism".  The full article: https://www.politico.eu/article/how-the-italian-right-is-weaponizing-food/ January 8, 2026 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CCC UK Country Associate Mike Salem is joining us this week to discuss the UK budget and its implication for consumers.  December 4, 2025 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's episode: Foodflation in France shows the difficulties of sustainable food production Can the French government ban Shein? The COP/FCTC conference is kicking off soon, Michael Landl joins us to explain Find out more about the World Vapers Alliance on their website: https://worldvapersalliance.com/ November 13, 2025 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and why are you yawning while reading about it? With Yaël Ossowski we dive deep into ESG reporting this week, and what it means for energy policy and consumers. November 6, 2025 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Short solo episode this week, with some news updates. October 30, 2025 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fabio is back to co-hosting with Bill. In this episode we're discussing the finishing line for the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement, as well as the push by Brussels to age-gate social media platforms. October 23, 2025 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More liquid allowance and carry-on bags, there's good and bad news for air passengers in Europe. Also, Juan Taborcía from Considerate Pouchers to talk about threats to nicotine alternatives out of both France and the European Union. October 16, 2025 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're really tired of Trump's tariffs by now, but at least there's news out of the U.S signalling changes to the scheduling of cannabis. Elizabeth Hicks joins us to discuss it all. October 9, 2025 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ConsEUmer podcast is back after a long break. Unfortunately bad policy persists, so in this week's episode we're bringing on CCC UK Policy Associate Mike Salem to discuss the EU's housing policy plan as well as the UK government's proposal to introduce digital ID. October 2, 2025 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the trailer for the new Consumer Choice Center original podcast series Control Freaks, a show about people who seek to tell consumers what to do. Season 1 will cover Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Trump administration. Episode 1 is already streaming. Subscribe now and hit the notification bell so you don't miss upcoming episodes ! Subscribe to Control Freaks wherever you are listening to ConsEUmer.Donate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's solo episode: some of Haribo's cola candy in the Netherlands contains... cannabis, the airline compensation review is dragging on, and Flixtrain expands its network in Europe. May 29, 2025 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Should you get the extended warranty on a new MacBook? Fabio Fernandes joins the podcast this week to discuss how to handle your electronics. Also: are highly processed foods bad for you? May 15, 2025 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's episode, Justin Leventhal, Senior Policy Analyst at the American Consumer Institute and our own Research Manager Emil Panzaru join us to discuss sports betting regulation and implications in both Europe and the United States. May 1, 2025 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yaël Ossowski joins the podcast this week to give us a rundown on the upcoming federal election in Canada, discuss mandatory bike helmets in the Netherlands, and the latest in the scandal surrounding EU funding of NGOs. April 24, 2025 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's episode is co-hosted with our own Elizabeth Hicks, and we can't help but notice that after our long break, the world of international trade got a lot worse. April 17, 2025 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There will be a new season of the Fun Police podcast, which is why there haven't been new episodes of this podcast as of late. Please go over to the "Fun Police" channel on the podcast app you're currently using, subscribe and hit the notification bell so you don't miss the weekly episode update that is starting on March 5th ! Thank you for listening, and we will be back to regularly scheduled episodes in the near future.Donate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's episode is co-hosted with Fabio Fernandes. We talk about the introduction of the common charger (USB-C) in the European Union. We also discuss the announcement by Meta to reverse its content moderation policies. January 16, 2025 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Merry Christmas ! Thank for listening to this podcast in 2024, and we'll be back with new episodes in the coming year. These topics in this episode: – New EU Commission wants to make your flights more expensive (again) – Keep some cash at home, says the Dutch National Bank – Legal weed will debut in some Dutch cities in April December 19, 2024 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyzto  Donate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CCC Research Manager Emil Panzaru joins us on this episode to discuss the latest Sharing Economy Index and how they got to their findings. Check out the report here: https://consumerchoicecenter.org/sharing-economy-index-2024/ December 5, 2024 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yaël Ossowski is co-hosting this week's episode. We're talking about the French government getting its priorities wrong by planning on banning nicotine pouches. Also, the EU continues to struggles to push the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement over the line. November 28, 2024 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pieter Cleppe joins us this week to discuss the potential incoming tariffs under the Trump administration. Also, my colleague Egle joins us to lay out the latest in EU tech news, aaaaand the city of Lisbon bans night flights. November 14, 2024 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Solo for this week's episode, but with these stories: 🇺🇸 Trump's election breeds bad news for EU-US trade ⛐ 2035 car ban might go off-road 🇭🇺 Hungary's Commissioner pick facing opposition November 7, 2024 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's episode of the ConsEUmer podcast, Fabio Fernandes and Bill Wirtz discuss the future of Airbnb, as well as pending regulations on auto-play and infinite scroll on social media platforms. Note: sorry about missing last week's episode due to sickness! October 31, 2024 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's episode, Donald Kimball from the Washington Policy Center ** mistakenly said institute on the recording, apologies **, joins us to discuss what the potential breakup of Google would mean for consumers. Also, meat producers lobbying against the use of the word "sausage" in meat substitute products lost at the ECJ, and rail competition with private companies has boosted rail use in the Czech Republic. October 17, 2024 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Going solo in this week's episodes, where I'll tell you more about the procedures establishing the next European Commission. Also in this episode: the Netherlands opposes blanket screening of instant messaging services like WhatsApp, and the mayor of Paris faces a major battle over the reduced speed limits on Paris' peripheral roads. October 3, 2024 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's episode is co-hosted with the CCC's U.S Affairs Analyst Elizabeth Hicks. We talk about the U.S presidential election, and the latest proposals by both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump for price controls. Follow Liz on X @eohicks. September 26, 2024 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's episode is co-hosted with Fabio Fernandes. We talk about the competitiveness and innovation report by former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, as well as the release of the iPhone 16 and some of the missing features that Europeans won't be able to enjoy. September 12, 2024 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're back from our summer break ! In this week's episode: dropshipping companies are under fire by a Dutch consumer watchdog, Brazil has banned the use of the social media platform X -- our colleague Lucas Palma joins us to discuss the details, and Matthias Bauer from ECIPE is on the programme to talk us through the latest news in the EU-China EV tariff saga. Check out ECIPE's work on their website: https://ecipe.org/ September 5, 2024 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this last episode before the summer break, we address falling beer sales in the Netherlands, and the ongoing Council battle of tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. Also, Amrit Nanda from Plant ETP joins us to explain the latest on the Commission's regulatory changes on gene-editing. Check out their "Plantastic Discoveries" on their website: https://www.plantetp.eu/information-hub/ July 18, 2024 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A brief hello this week. No regular episode. Last one out next week. Hustling before the summer break! July 11, 2024 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yaël Ossowski joins us this week to discuss the latest regulatory news for end-to-end encryption and artificial intelligence in the European Union. Regulators seemingly doing, again, more harm than good. Check out EU Tech Loop: https://eutechloop.com/ July 4, 2024 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's episode, we discuss the mayor of Barcelona's measure to cut Airbnb licenses, we bring on Yaël Ossowski to explain Apple facing new potential fines for self-preferencing, and Chief Marketing Officer of Ryanair joins us to discuss their fight with Online Travel Agents (OTAs), and how his airline believes that consumers are being scammed. June 27, 2024 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyzto Donate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan Burdinski is back on the podcast to discuss the most recent decision by the European Commission to consider tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. Follow Jan Burdinski on X @Burdinski. June 20, 2024 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pieter Cleppe joins us on this week's episode to discuss the European elections that happened last week. Also in this episode: online retailers face fines in the Netherlands for deceptive discounts, and Swiss legislators criticise the ECHR for its climate change ruling. June 13, 2024 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's episode is co-hosted with CCC board member Chad Swarthout, who joins us to discuss his views on the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPN) and the use of VR headsets like the Apple Vision Pro. June 6, 2024 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Due to last minute changes, no guest this week, but a short episode with two news stories regardless: Paris faces Airbnb prices and hotels during the Olympics that do not increase as much as planned, and the European elections are happening next week, but are they inclusive? May 30, 2024 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we talk about the incoming Dutch government, a new CCC project in Europe called EU Tech Loop, and we host EPICENTER Director Adam Bartha to discuss the protests in Georgia against the foreign agents law, and how the law will jeopardise the relationship between Georgia and the EU. May 23, 2024 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fabio Fernandes is helping us unpack the latest tech news this week. We're talking about why your iPhone's battery is draining way too quickly, and what we make of the latest innovations in LLM's, as well as Sam Altman's idea for "Universal Basic Compute". Follow Fabio on X @DeFariaeSilva. May 16, 2024 Follow ConsEUmer wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://apple.co/2HR4TLTSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3l3GZdxGoogle podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fyyztoDonate: http://consumerchoicecenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.