The Europeans | European news, politics and culture

The show goes on. This week, aside from bringing you some positivity from around the continent, we're talking to someone who turned something terrible into something empowering. Emma Holten was 20 years old when nude photos of her were leaked onto the internet without her consent. We gave her a call in Copenhagen to hear about her inspiring fightback. Also this week: good dogs and good decisions in Spain and Greece. You can follow Emma on Instagram here and Twitter here. Thank you to the generous supporters who keep this show going! You can pledge just $2 a month or more at patreon.com/europeanspodcast. Thanks for listening. Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | [email protected]

This week, the distances travelled in search of love and safety. The Finnish novelist and playwright Saara Turunen has written beautifully about what it's like to navigate a relationship between Helsinki and Barcelona. We chat to her about European culture clashes and what feminism looks like in the two countries she lives between. Plus, Europe's failed refugee policy, magical taps, and ill-chosen words by a billionaire populist (no, not that one). Saara's piece appears in Europa28, a collection of writing by European women which comes out on March 12. Read the New York Times investigation on how oligarchs milk EU farming subsidies here. Fancy seeing Lysistrata in Dortmund on March 23 or Greentea Peng in Lisbon on April 23? We have free tickets! Tag us in a post alongside @liveurope for your chance to win. Thanks for listening. If you like the show and have a couple of spare dollars a month, you can help keep us running at patreon.com/europeanspodcast. Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | [email protected]

You might not think of the corridors of Brussels as a particularly spiritual place, but all kinds of religious groups are jostling for influence there. This week we delve into the world of religious lobbying with the French journalist Quentin Ariès. Also this week: a secret passage, winds of change in Slovakia, and the power of the Paris agreement. You can read Quentin's article on religious lobbying in the latest issue of Are We Europe magazine. Listeners to this podcast get 25% off with the code EUROPEANSPOD. Watch Iceland's amazing Eurovision entry here and help support this podcast at patreon.com/europeanspodcast. Thanks for listening. Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | [email protected]

In 2015, the 'migrant crisis' was the front page story of every newspaper in Europe. Today more than 42,000 people are still stranded on the Greek islands, in shameful conditions — and yet we barely talk about it. Migration researcher Apostolis Fotadis joins us from Athens to explain why Greece's refugee policy has become such a disaster. Also this week: big changes in Portugal, criminally-bad (?) singing in Croatia, and a Finnish mystery. Thanks for listening. You can support the podcast on Patreon here: https://patreon.com/europeanspodcast Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | [email protected]

This week, a tale of two continents. Katy speaks to the Kenyan writer Patrick Gathara about Eurafrica, an idea that informed the European project after World War II but is now largely forgotten. Sixty years after a wave of African countries won their independence in 1960, we're also talking about why decolonisation is an ongoing process. Also this week: jilted Balkan lovers, mixed meat messages, and a lost summer soundtrack. Read Patrick's piece about Eurafrica for Al Jazeera: https://bit.ly/2HE5s88 Take part in our survey and help us make the podcast better: https://iter.ly/w9d8i Enter our competition for free Charlotte dos Santos tickets: http://tiny.cc/n3p7jz Thanks for listening. Patreon | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | [email protected]

Something huge just happened in Irish politics, but as outsiders it's difficult to understand what exactly. Naomi O'Leary from the excellent podcast The Irish Passport is here to untangle everything for us. Also this week: coronavirus racism, a step forward for LGBTQ+ rights in Switzerland, and what happens when a celeb does the 'double-clicky-likey-thing' on one of your social media posts. We're doing a survey to work out how to make the podcast better! If you've got 5 minutes to spare, we'd love to hear your thoughts. You can take part here. We also have a competition this week, courtesy of our friends at our favourite European concert venue chain Liveurope! We have three pairs of free tickets to see the brilliant Charlotte Dos Santos in Copenhagen, Brussels and London in March. For a chance to get their hands on them, tag us in a tweet or Instagram post letting the world know you listen to The Europeans! Thanks for listening. Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Patreon | [email protected]

We've been wondering how on earth the European Union makes laws for 27 countries at once. Producer Katz Laszlo went to the beach to find out. This is the last episode in our mini-series Bursting the Bubble, explaining how the EU works in the least boring way possible. Huge thanks to the European Cultural Foundation for funding this series. They support projects that promote Europe as an open and democratic space. Thank you also to the amazing Patreon supporters who keep this show running, and to The Europeans' tote bag designer and beach trash collector Rosa ter Kuile. Written and produced by Katz Laszlo, with help from Katy Lee and Dominic Kraemer. Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Patreon | [email protected]

This week, Katy heads to the forest in Lithuania. Ahead of International Holocaust Memorial Day on January 27, we're talking about memory politics with a formidable 97-year-old. This is the last podcast in our mini-series Postcards from Europe, featuring intimate portraits of lives and places across the continent. It was made possible by the European Cultural Foundation, who support initiatives that rethink Europe as an open and democratic space. This podcast was written, produced and edited by Katy Lee, with help from Sonia Zhuravlyova, Dominic Kraemer and Katz Laszlo. Voiceover by Haya Vardy. Music provided by Moni Ovadia, Yad Vashem and Blue Dot Sessions. Artwork by La Kingsbeer. Thanks for listening. Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Patreon europeanspodcast.com | [email protected]

Monarchies might seem out of date on a continent that prides itself on its democratic values, but nearly a third of Europeans still live in countries that have them. This week the drama in the British royal family finally convinced Katy to lift her ban on the topic. She and Dominic are joined by Bob Morris ⁠— constitutional expert at UCL and co-editor of a forthcoming book comparing European monarchies ⁠— to talk about why the royals are still a thing in the 21st century. Plus, flight-shaming, Federer-shaming, and Hungary's quest for a baby boom. Fancy a postcard from Paris or Amsterdam? Chip in to our Patreon fund before the end of the month! Thanks to the amazing donors who are already keeping this show running: patreon.com/europeanspodcast. Thanks for listening. Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | [email protected]

This week, a story that puts the romance back into European policy negotiations. What does a ninth-generation Catalan fisherman have to do with a law that affects an entire continent? Quite a lot, it turns out. This is the third in our series of original reported podcasts, Postcards from Europe, featuring intimate portraits of lives and places across the continent. It was made possible by the European Cultural Foundation, who support initiatives that rethink Europe as an open and democratic space. This podcast was written, produced and edited by Katz Laszlo. Editing and production assistance from Katy Lee, Dominic Kraemer and Valentina Vivona. Voiceover by Kike Molares. Music by Martí Batalla i Busquets and Blue Dot Sessions. Artwork by La Kingsbeer. With thanks to the Tarridas family, Alfons Garrido and our amazing Patreon supporters. [email protected] | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Patreon

In Budapest, going out for a drink can be a political act. For the final episode of 2019, Dominic takes us to Auróra, a very special bar at the heart of the fightback against Hungary's authoritarian government. This is the second in our new series of original reported podcasts, Postcards from Europe, featuring intimate portraits of lives and places across the continent. This series was made possible by the European Cultural Foundation, who support initiatives that rethink Europe as an open and democratic space. Thank you also to our generous Patreon supporters and to Budapest band Jü for the music you heard in this episode. Looking for the infamous Instagram pics of police officers posted outside the bar? You can find them here. Happily, Gyuri says they haven't had to post on the account for two months. Reporter and producer: Dominic Kraemer. Assistant producer: Philip Pollak. Editors: Katz Laszlo and Katy Lee. Artwork: La Kingsbeer. Thanks for listening. We'll see you in 2020! Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | [email protected]

“There are crooks everywhere you look now," Malta's top investigative journalist wrote on her blog in 2017. "The situation is desperate.” Half an hour later, Daphne Caruana Galizia was dead. The fallout from her murder has now tipped Malta into a full-blown political crisis. Ranier Fsadni, columnist for The Times of Malta and The Shift, is on the line to help us untangle the situation. Also this week: ancient wood transportation and the slashing of Danish art. Thanks to our generous Patreon supporters for keeping the show going. You can chip in at patreon.com/europeanspodcast, or leave us a review to help other people find us. Thanks for listening. Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | [email protected]

This week we travel to the heart of the continent to ask: who is Ursula, and should you give a damn about her? This special episode was made with help from the European Cultural Foundation, who support projects that promote Europe as an open and democratic space. Liked the show? Please leave us a review or help keep us going by chipping in to our Patreon fund at patreon.com/europeanspodcast. Thanks for listening. Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | [email protected]

Europe's museums are facing growing calls to give back treasures stolen during the colonial era. But what about colonial hand-me-downs that can be found in ordinary households? Elliot Ross, who covers Everyday Colonialism for The Correspondent, is here to explain why this ugly part of our past is still very much a part of our present. We're also talking about a scandal that has been rocking Iceland and nuggets of good news for the planet. You can follow Elliot on Twitter here and check out his work for The Correspondent here. Thanks for listening! If you like the show, please leave us a review to help other people find us! And if you're feeling extra generous, you can chip in to our Patreon fund to help us keep the show running at patreon.com/europeanspodcast. Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | [email protected]

For this special episode, we're taking you inside Herstedvester, a maximum-security prison in Denmark. Herstedvester houses prisoners with serious mental health issues, as well as those who are considered a danger to others. Lene Bech Sillesen went to meet some inmates who are facing a choice with drastic consequences. This is the first in our new series of original reported podcasts, Postcards from Europe, featuring intimate portraits of lives and places across the continent. It was made possible by the European Cultural Foundation, who support initiatives that rethink Europe as an open and democratic space. A note on this week's show: we do not explore the inmates' crimes in this episode. Our aim is not to vindicate them, but we want to show what life is like for Greenlandic prisoners in the Danish penal system. That said, if you or people close to you have been affected by serious crime in Greenland, you might want to skip this episode. Hosts: Dominic Kraemer and Katy Lee. Reporter and producer: Lene Bech Sillesen. Editor: Katz Laszlo. Voice actors: Peter Frederik Olsen and Vivi Nielsen. Artwork by La Kingsbeer. [email protected] | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Patreon

This week we’re celebrating Europeans who refused to let boundaries get in the way of things. The historian Orlando Figes is here to talk about the continent-crossing lovers at the heart of his new book, the brilliantly-named ‘The Europeans’. The poet Christopher Hütmannsberger reads us a beautiful new work to mark 30 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Plus, wild borders and the Gentle Revolution. Thanks to our amazing Patreon supporters for keeping us going! You can chip in at patreon.com/europeanspodcast. Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | [email protected] Thanks for listening.

This week, the fight for Romania's forests. Two of the country's forest rangers have been suffered brutal deaths since September. Who would do such a thing? The answer may lie in the lucrative illegal trade for wood in Romania, home to more than half of Europe's remaining primeval forests. Environmental activist Gabi Paun is here to explain why protecting trees has become so dangerous. We're also talking about Belgium's first female PM and wounded French pride. You can find out more about Gabi's activist group, Agent Green, here. Like the show? You can chip in to help us keep it running at patreon.com/europeanspodcast. Thanks for listening! Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | [email protected]

Renia's diary spent decades locked in a bank vault. Like many teenagers, she had used it to vent about stupid fights with her friends and to record the thrill of her first kiss. And when the war came, she used it to document the relentless killing of Jews in the town where she lived. Ania Jakubek is on the line from Warsaw to tell us the extraordinary story of Renia Spiegel, and why it stayed unknown for so long. We're also talking about promising signs that Europeans are becoming less bigoted. Oh, and there's a dog. You can read Ania's article about Renia here. For beautiful drawings, you should also follow Ania on Instagram. If you, like Dominic's mum, would like to get your hands on a limited edition Angry Macron tote bag, consider signing up for our Patreon top tier! All donations big and small are very welcome at patreon.com/europeanspodcast. Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | [email protected] Thanks for listening.

This week, the female writers that Europe forgot. Carme Font Paz is leading a fascinating project aimed at uncovering the scribblings of European women from centuries ago and giving them their rightful place in the literary canon. Plus, Poland's election, posthumous comedy and why the EU won't be expanding east any time soon. You can find out more about Carme's project here. Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please give us five big gold stars on Apple Podcasts or help us grow by chipping in on Patreon. See you next week. Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | [email protected]

This week, the fight for LGBT rights in Poland. A horrible pattern has been repeating itself in Polish cities: far-right thugs turning up to hurl eggs, bottles, blows and insults at Pride protesters. Our guest, the poet and novelist Jacek Dehnel, is on the line from Warsaw to reflect on what bishops and politicians have to do with it, as well as why there are reasons for hope. Plus, nitrogen and warm-hearted drug smugglers. You can read Jacek's account of what happened at the Pride march in Białystok here in the Guardian. His novel Lala and the first volume of the murder mystery series co-written with his husband, Mrs Mohr Goes Missing, are now available in English along with his poetry collection Aperture. Enjoying the show? Join the generous souls helping us to make it better at patreon.com/europeanspodcast. You can also help out by leaving us a (nice!) review on Apple Podcasts. Thanks for listening! Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | [email protected]

This week, the beauty of the Irish language. Our guest is Darach Ó Séaghdha, whose wonderful book and podcast are a celebration of a language that may only have about 74,000 daily speakers but is very much alive and kicking. Also: the right to be forgotten, the Ukrainian side of the Trump impeachment inquiry, and treasures hidden in plain sight. Check out Darach's book, 'Motherfoclóir: Dispatches from a Not So Dead Language' and his podcast of the same name. And follow @TheIrishFor if you know what's good for you. Thanks as always to the hugely generous Patreon supporters who are keeping this show going. You can sign up at patreon.com/europeanspodcast. Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | [email protected] Thanks for listening. europeanspodcast.com

How does a city of little more than 50,000 permanent residents deal with an annual stampede of 25 million tourists? Venice is an extreme example of the growing scourge of overtourism across Europe. We talk to one of the residents organising a fightback, Elena Riu of the Gruppo 25 aprile. Also this week: #ClimateStrike, Rammstein and skydiving in your nineties. Thanks as always to the amazing Patreon supporters keeping this show going: patreon.com/europeanspodcast Hit us up at our shiny new email address! [email protected] Thanks for listening ❤️ Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | europeanspodcast.com

This week we’re heading into the belly of the EU beast to talk about who’s going to be running the show for the next five years. Alberto Alemmano, aka the busiest man in Europe, is here to unpick some controversial decisions by Ursula von der Leyen as she gets ready to take charge in November. Plus, skeletons and Macron portraits. Send us ideas for new laws! [email protected] Help us out by joining our amazingly generous Patreon squad! patreon.com/europeanspodcast Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

WE'RE BACK, with a new look for a new season. This week we're catching up on the summer's Italian drama and tackling the delicate question of Nazi relatives. And we're heading to Görlitz, on the German-Polish border, to find out why why so many voters in eastern Germany are putting their faith in the far-right AfD. Our guest is Emily Schultheis, a Berlin-based journalist covering right-wing populism, who spent a month in Görlitz getting into voters' heads. Read Emily's report for the Institute of Current World Affairs, where she is a fellow, here! Check out her latest piece for The Atlantic! And follow her on Twitter: @emilyrs. In other news, we have a beautiful new website: europeanspodcast.com. Help keep us running by joining our generous Patreon supporters: patreon.com/europeanspodcast. In Amsterdam on September 12? Get tickets for Cine Radio, the glorious international audio event hosted by our new producer Katz Laszlo. See you next week, it's good to be back. Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | [email protected]

... or 'hiphop' in Esperanto. This week we're talking about how the internet shook up the world's most idealistic language, with Federico Gobbo, professor of Esperanto at the University of Amsterdam. We're also talking about the furore over a rapper involved in a Swedish assault case, and the Dutch kid behind one of the most successful beats of all time. We're taking August off to work on some special episodes, but we'll be back before you know it. Keep your eyes peeled in September for our brand new logo! As a final farewell to its iconic predecessor, we'll be sending out limited edition Angry Macron tote bags to our existing Patreon subscribers to say thanks for the amazing support. Not a member yet? Sign up for our new $20 subscription to get your hands on a piece of podcasting history. See you in a few weeks! Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Patreon europeanspodcast.com [email protected]

Scotland now has the highest rate of drug-related deaths in Europe — even higher than the United States. The shocking statistics have prompted calls in Scotland for a move towards the decriminalisation of drug use, taking the lead from a radical change of approach in Portugal. Portugal went from a full-blown opioid crisis in the 1980s to having one of the lowest rates of drug deaths in Europe today. We called Andreia Alves, a social worker with the Lisbon NGO Crescer, to find how a more humane policy makes her work easier. Also: turtle doves, VIP tour guides, and the art of the Spanish compromise. Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Patreon [email protected] Thanks for listening.

This week we’re talking about what happened when Actress, the electronic musician also known as Darren Cunningham, made British and Dutch politicians debate the meaning of love. We’re also talking about French extravagance, the gentrification of Berlin, and the magic of medicine. You can find the article Dominic mentioned on the incredibly complex surgery that separated twins Safa and Marwa here. Liked the show? Please give us five big gold stars! Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Patreon Thanks for listening.

We don't call it 'the migrant crisis' anymore. Yet, every day, people attempt the treacherous crossing to reach our shores, and more than 500 people have died trying this year alone. This week we're talking about the politics of fear and the laws of the sea with the Italian migration expert Matteo Villa. We're also talking about rockets, bees and Greece's return to the right. Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Patreon Thanks for listening.

This week, the European women steering the ship. Katy and Dominic discuss the case of Carola Rackete, the rescue boat captain who has come to symbolize the moral divide over migration, as well as the nomination of Germany's Ursula von der Leyen and Christine Lagarde to two of the most powerful jobs on the continent. In the meantime, the biggest Czech protests since the fall of communism have been giving the populist billionaire PM Andrej Babiš a run for his money. We ring up Benjamin Roll, one of the young leaders of the growing protest movement. Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Patreon Thanks for listening.

What does it mean to be black in Europe? This week's guest Johny Pitts went on a five-month journey around the continent, interviewing black Europeans and exploring his own identity. The result is his brilliant new book, 'Afropean: Notes from Black Europe', which makes the case for a community that crosses borders. Also this week: the role of railways in the Holocaust; whether or not we should talk about Merkel; and a strange reward for good behaviour. Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Patreon [email protected] Thanks for listening.

This week, the strange and rather wonderful story of how the BBC tried (and failed, pretty badly) to create a European soap opera back in the 1990s. Former 'Eldorado' star Kai Maurer reflects on how his unlikely role playing a German beach bum kicked off his acting career and how the show was ahead of its time. Plus: a landmark Spanish court ruling and the ugly realities of European consensus politics. Read the article that sparked Katy's El Dorado obsession here. Should we launch a campaign to get the BBC to bring it back? Send us your thoughts: [email protected] Twitter Facebook Instagram Thanks to our supremely generous Patreon supporters. You can help us keep the show running by chipping in here. See you next week.

This week, the increasingly worrying politics of a country with one of the most complicated governments in the world. We're talking to the Bosnian journalist Aleksandar Brezar about troubles that go ignored all too often in Europe and wartime scars that have yet to heal. We're also talking about European countries' varying approaches to regulating what women do with their bodies, and a transatlantic romance that has stood the test of time. Read Aleksandar's excellent piece in the Guardian and check out his podcast about Southeastern Europe, Sarajevo Calling. Rachel Kadish's superb piece about the humanity of Anne Frank can be found here, and France 24's in-depth reporting on abortion across Europe is here. Thanks as always to the supremely generous Patreon donors who are keeping this show running. You can chip in as little as a dollar a month at patreon.com/europeanspodcast. Thanks for listening. Twitter.com/EuropeansPod Instagram.com/europeanspodcast Facebook.com/europeanspodcast [email protected]

Hands up if you've got a better idea of what's happening in American politics than European politics, despite living on this side of the pond? This week André Wilkens, the new director of the European Cultural Foundation, argues that Europeans need to get better at telling their own story — whether it's in the form of a Hamilton-style hit musical or otherwise. Also: scooter wars, holograms, and when the left gets tough on immigration. You can read Katy's piece on the arrival of electric scooters in Paris last summer here in the Guardian, and see a holographic elephant here. If you like the show, you can help us out by giving us five big gold stars on Apple Podcasts, or join our hugely generous Patreon supporters. Thanks for listening. Twitter.com/EuropeansPod Instagram.com/europeanspodcast Facebook.com/europeanspodcast [email protected]

We've just elected a bunch of people to represent 500 million of us. But when it comes to the results of the European elections, most of us have been preoccupied with what happened in our own countries. This week we're zooming out to take a look at the continent as a whole with Caroline de Gruyter, the Oslo-based Europe correspondent for the Dutch newspaper NRC. Plus: Ibizagate, part 2; rural PR stunts; and the importance of correctly-spelled tweets. Many thanks to our Patreon supporters! Twitter.com/EuropeansPod Instagram.com/europeanspodcast Facebook.com/europeanspodcast [email protected] Thanks for listening.

Should machines have the power to decide whether a human on the battlefield lives or dies? Ulrike Franke spends her days imagining the wars of the future. We chatted to her about ‘killer robots’ and rogue drones. Plus: a far-right honey-trap and Germany in the age of the influencer. Twitter.com/EuropeansPod Instagram.com/europeanspodcast Facebook.com/europeanspodcast [email protected] Many thanks to our Patreon supporters! See you next week.

Katy's never voted in a European election before. This week she tries to make amends by figuring out, finally, what the European parliament is and what MEPs actually do. The elections are May 23-26 depending on what country you're in. Please vote! This episode was made with support from the European Cultural Foundation. They support initatives which rethink Europe as an open and democratic space. Thanks for listening. europeanspodcast.com

Countries all around Europe are dealing with the same dilemma: what to do with citizens who went to join ISIS. Tiny Kosovo is alone in opting to bring back a large group of its citizens when other countries are turning their backs. To find out why, Dominic talked to AJ Naddaff, who spent months researching why so many left Kosovo to fight, and the country's humane response to bringing people back. Over on the western edge of Europe Katy's been chatting to the French writer Maxime Calligaro about why the Brussels bubble is a surprisingly great place to set a crime novel. Maxime and Katy also spoke at the Ancienne Belgique last week about how to make Europe less boring (you can watch it here). Thanks Liveurope for hosting! Also this week: sheep, bears (you can read about the mystery here in El País) and an attempted coup. We'll be back next week for a special episode on how the European parliament works and why you should give a damn about the elections. Til then, hit us up online: PATREON: we're hugely grateful for your donations to help keep the show running! Twitter.com/EuropeansPod Instagram.com/europeanspodcast Facebook.com/europeanspodcast [email protected]

This week, a celebration of the quintessential Renaissance man: yes, it's opera singer Dominic Kraemer with an interview about CHEMICAL ELEMENTS. We're also marking the 500th deathday of some guy called Leonardo who was similarly talented in both the arts and sciences. In Poland, the art world has gone bananas; in Spain, there's life in socialism yet; and British chemist and YouTube sensation Martyn Poliakoff is here to explain why he wants to turn the periodic table upside down, literally. In a week when we won a big prize, we want to say thanks more than ever for listening. Particularly huge thanks go to our Patreon supporters. If you want to throw a dollar or so into the tip jar, you can do so at patreon.com/europeanspodcast. Beat Polish censorship by watching Natalia LL's work here. Love it? Hate it? Let us know: Twitter.com/EuropeansPod Instagram.com/europeanspodcast Facebook.com/europeanspodcast [email protected]

This week, European cultural greats past and present. We discuss the good, the bad and the Bauhaus with the American painter Henry Isaacs, who grew up surrounded by many of the key figures from the legendary German art school that marked its 100th birthday this month. And Katy chats to Kurt Overbergh, artistic director of the Ancienne Belgique music venue, about new sounds, immigration and the return of Turkish psychedelia. In Brussels? Come and see Katy at this great event at the Ancienne Belgique on May 7! Thanks for listening. If you have a euro or more to throw in the tip jar, the more the merrier at patreon.com/europeanspodcast. You can also help other listeners find the show by leaving us a review here. Twitter.com/EuropeansPod Instagram.com/europeanspodcast Facebook.com/europeanspodcast [email protected]

This week a brilliant young journalist was shot dead in Northern Ireland, on the 21st anniversary of the Good Friday peace agreement. The senseless death of Lyra McKee is a reminder of a conflict that most in the country have put behind them. Her friend, the writer Susan McKay, is here with a very moving tribute to a remarkable person. Also this week: a rebellion in London, rising from the ashes in Paris, and the magnificent species that is the European honey bee. You can follow Susan on Twitter here. Many thanks to BBC Radio Foyle in Derry for recording Susan's tribute for us. Thanks for listening. If you have a euro or two a month to spare, you can help support the show at patreon.com/europeanspodcast.com. And if you fancy writing a (flattering) review on Apple Podcasts, you can do so here. See you next week, Europe. Twitter.com/EuropeansPod Instagram.com/europeanspodcast Facebook.com/europeanspodcast [email protected]

No, European governments are not handing out 'brothel vouchers' to immigrants; and no, the EU is not trying to ban bendy cucumbers. Euro-myths are as old as the union itself, but with elections just around the corner, setting the record straight feels more important than ever. This week's guest is on the frontlines of the fight against disinformation: Jules Darmanin, the coordinator of a new continent-wide band of fact-checkers. Plus: Julian Assange, Swiss democracy, and the world's greatest neighbours. You can find the Fact Check EU website here in 11 beautiful languages. That nice article about our former guest Flavia Kleiner that Dominic was talking about is here, and the Swiss podcast episode that Katy was raving about is available here. Huge thanks to the incredibly generous people helping us to keep this show running with their donations. You can chip in at patreon.com/europeanspodcast. Thanks for listening. Twitter.com/EuropeansPod Instagram.com/europeanspodcast Facebook.com/europeanspodcast [email protected]

This week, a little glimmer of hope from central Europe in the form of a new Slovakian president who refuses to fight dirty. And a little glimmer of the future in the form of our guest, bionic woman and tech journalist Mimi Billing, one of a growing number of Swedes to have got themselves... microchipped? Plus: Russian whale jails, a decades-old French mystery, and germs at the opera. Follow Mimi on Twitter here and read her great article about Swedish body-hacking here! And for more on Slovakia's badass president-elect Zuzana Čaputová, there's no better place to start than the latest episode of the In Between Europe podcast hosted by our former guest Zselyke Csaky, which you can check out here. A massive thanks to our growing army of Patreon supporters for keeping the show going. You can chip in at patreon.com/europeanspodcast. See you next week, and in the meantime, see you online! Twitter.com/EuropeansPod Instagram.com/europeanspodcast Facebook.com/europeanspodcast [email protected]

This week, like so many other weeks, it's been easy to take a look at the world and think: how did things get so polarised? Ahead of the European elections, the battle lines are already being drawn: nationalists vs globalists, liberals vs conservatives. But a fascinating project is trying to get Europeans from across the political spectrum to actually sit down and talk about their differences. Sebastian Horn, the deputy editor of Die Zeit online, is on the line from Berlin to explain the thinking behind the Europe Talks project. Plus: changing populist fortunes from Budapest to Amsterdam, and the mathematics of soap bubbles. Sign up to take part in Europe Talks here. Thanks so much to our listeners who've donated on Patreon! Every little helps and we're hugely grateful for the support. You can chip in at patreon.com/europeanspodcast. Thanks for listening. Twitter.com/EuropeansPod Instagram.com/europeanspodcast Facebook.com/europeanspodcast [email protected]

After the week it's been, we could all do with a break from the present. This week, we're venturing into Europe past -- about six thousand years ago, to a time when mysterious stone structures were springing up all around the continent. Today we call them megaliths, and there's a lot we still don't know about them. But one woman has been on a quest to work out how these extraordinary monuments spread around Europe. Archaeologist Bettina Schulz Paulsson is on the line from Gothenburg to talk about how early Europeans were exchanging knowledge and culture a good few millennia before the EU was invented. Also: a reverse art heist, a blow for the anti-vaxxers , and how to say no to big business. Thanks so much to the new supporters who joined our Patreon this week! You can help us carry on making the show by chipping at https://www.patreon.com/europeanspodcast. Thanks for listening. Twitter.com/EuropeansPod Instagram.com/europeanspodcast Facebook.com/europeanspodcast [email protected]

This week The Europeans are heading underground to the nearest bunker. Julie McDowall, Cold War writer and expert on all things atomic, is on the line from Glasgow to talk about how different countries in Europe planned for nuclear war and what it’s like to visit Chernobyl, three decades after the disaster. We also talk about the woman shaking up Estonian politics, questionable ethics in Italian opera, and Slovenian sandwiches. You can check out Julie’s excellent podcast The Atomic Hobo here and follow her on Twitter here. Thanks so much to the new supporters who joined our Patreon this week! You can help us carry on making the show by chipping at https://www.patreon.com/europeanspodcast. Thanks for listening. Twitter.com/EuropeansPod Instagram.com/europeanspodcast Facebook.com/europeanspodcast [email protected]

This week we're talking about transgender rights in Europe with the author and activist CN Lester, whose wonderful book Trans Like Me gets its mainstream paperback release on Thursday. And on a continent where young people mostly stayed at home for the last elections, Mick ter Reehorst calls in to explain why he's launched a new campaign, #ProveThemWrong, to get out the youth vote in May. Plus: winter bacon, sticking it to the homophobes, and a mile-high culture clash between France and the Netherlands. Check out CN's work at cnlester.com! Get the youth vote out at provethemwrong.eu! And watch this great video about women getting the vote in Switzerland! Thanks so much to everyone who's started chipping in to our Patreon fund. Help us keep the show going at patreon.com/europeanspodcast. Thanks for listening. 🇪🇺 Twitter.com/EuropeansPod Instagram.com/europeanspodcast Facebook.com/europeanspodcast [email protected]

This week, the kid from Hamburg who grew up to become one of the most powerful forces in global fashion. Karl Lagerfeld built not one but three hugely successful brands. After his death last week at the age of 85, we're exploring the flaws, quirks and legacy of this complicated man with the help of Fiachra Gibbons, culture editor at Agence France-Presse and long-time observer of 'the Kaiser'. We also discuss Europe's rising problem with anti-Semitism, some good news for Serbia's gay first couple, and how to make it big in Finland. Thanks to everyone who's started chipping in to our Patreon fund! Help us keep the show going at patreon.com/europeanspodcast. Thanks for listening. 🇪🇺 Twitter.com/EuropeansPod Instagram.com/europeanspodcast Facebook.com/europeanspodcast [email protected]

This week we're stretching the definition of Europe to the limit and travelling all the way down to the French-Italian research base in the Antarctic! By some miracle we managed to Skype the physicist Meganne Christian at the Concordia base about what it's like spending an entire year living in the most isolated place on Earth (albeit with decent Italian cooking). At the other end of the planet: bears, Viktor Orbán's bid to turn Hungarian women into baby-machines, and pop that pisses off the populists. Thanks to everyone who's started chipping in to our Patreon fund! Help us keep the show going at patreon.com/europeanspodcast. Thanks for listening. 🇪🇺 Twitter.com/EuropeansPod Instagram.com/europeanspodcast Facebook.com/europeanspodcast [email protected]

This week, the city where you can taste the air on your tongue. We're going to Skopje with the Macedonian writer Aleksandar Dimishkovski to find out what it's like living in the most polluted city in Europe. On the brighter side, we also have some Swedish bling, a badass Romanian anti-corruption crusader, and some long-forgotten treasures. Interested in finding out why John Ruskin is so relevant? Click here. Thanks so much to everyone who's signed up to support us on Patreon! If you like the show and have a tiny bit of cash to spare, you can join our kind donors at patreon.com/europeanspodcast. Thanks for listening. 🇪🇺 Twitter.com/EuropeansPod Instagram.com/europeanspodcast Facebook.com/europeanspodcast [email protected]

This week's guest is ten years old and one of the fiercest, smartest people we've ever had on this podcast. Lilly Platt calls in from Zeist in the Netherlands to tell us why she's helping to lead the tens of thousands of children across Europe striking to demand action on climate change. And from skipping school to skipping the queue, anti-money laundering expert Laure Brillaud is here from Brussels to cast a light on the murky world of 'golden visas' for sale in Europe. Plus: positive pop, bad meat, and one very happy cellist. You can follow Lilly's school strike and Plastic Pick-Up campaign on Facebook and Twitter. Read Laure's report on golden visas for Transparency International here. Thanks so much to everyone who's signed up to support us on Patreon! If you like the show and have a tiny bit of cash to spare, you can join our kind donors at patreon.com/europeanspodcast. Need a moment of calm? Check out this track by sexy 500-year-old composer Giovanni Pierluigi Palestrina here. Thanks for listening. 🇪🇺 ❤ Twitter.com/EuropeansPod Instagram.com/europeanspodcast Facebook.com/europeanspodcast [email protected]