Shows
The Europeans | European news, politics and cultureJosh and FrancoThis week, we heard that 'Josh and Franco', one of our all-time favourite episodes, has been nominated for the equivalent of an Oscar in the European podcast world: the Prix Europa. We are over the moon and thought this was a good moment to re-release the episode.
It was the first episode from our series This Is What A Generation Sounds Like and if you are watching on Spotify, you will be able to watch this podcast as it was our first attempt at creating a 'Visual Podcast', in collaboration with our friends at Are We Europe...2022-09-0932 min
The Europeans | European news, politics and culturePushbacksIt’s dawn in the Aegean Sea. A dozen asylum seekers are crammed into a rubber dinghy, hoping to land on the Greek island of Lesbos. They are already within EU waters — and they have the right, under international law, to claim asylum. But a huge ship is blocking their way.
This week we are looking at the phenomenon of pushbacks: illegal efforts to push people back across a border so that they cannot claim asylum. And we’re looking at mounting evidence that the EU’s border agency, Frontex, has witnessed or even participated in these pushback...2021-11-1845 min
ARE WE EUROPEBehind the Scenes: Andrei Popoviciu on Queer Roma activism in RomaniaAnneleen Ophoff, the editor in chief of our queer issue, interviews Andrei Popoviciu about his piece on queer activism in Romania. Andrei goes behind the scenes of writing the flagship piece, detailing the challenges and the different approaches he had to take whilst covering this story.
Produced and edited by Andrei Popoviciu and Priyanka Shankar
Music credits: Palms Down and Tolls Folly from Blue dot Sessions, Sublime from Artlist.io and sound effects from Artlist.io.2021-08-1626 min
ARE WE EUROPEReadout: Queer and Roma(nian)Today you're listening to a story about how queer Roma experiences are shaping LGBTQ+ activism in Romania, one of Europe's most religious societies.
This story is a part of our magazine—The Queer Issue.
Written and read by Andrei Popoviciu2021-08-0923 min
The Europeans | European news, politics and cultureEurope’s next illiberal democracy?Slovenia, aka Katy's favourite country, is increasingly drawing comparisons with Hungary and Poland when it comes to the state of its democracy. Can this worrying direction of travel be reversed? This week we ring up our favourite Sloveniologist Aljaž Pengov Bitenc to find out. We're also talking about Bulgaria's political rock star, and a shocking attack on a Dutch crime journalist.
This week's Isolation Inspiration: Katla and an update from Death In Ice Valley. You should also check out our interview with Death In Ice Valley host Marit Higraff, from May 2018! Listen here.
You can f...2021-07-1534 min
The Europeans | European news, politics and cultureBread WeekFew people talk about bread in such magical terms as Apollonia Poilâne. This week we speak to the head of one of France's most prestigious bakeries about the secrets of sourdough and taking over the family company aged just 18. We're also talking about Iceland's four-day week experiment, a cyberattack that took out hundreds of Swedish supermarkets, and boosting body positivity in Norway.
This week's Isolation Inspiration: Apollonia's book Poilâne, Eurocrats Who Look Like Europe (EU Scream), and Sweat.
This episode was produced as part of Sphera, a collective of independent European media. Find ou...2021-07-0835 min
The Europeans | European news, politics and cultureDenisaWe tend to talk about freedom of movement within the EU as an abstract concept. In reality, moving to a new place involves a million little moments of awkwardness, sweetness, and human vulnerability. This week, we bring you a story of what freedom of movement actually felt like, for a 14-year-old Romanian moving to Germany.
This is the second episode from our series This Is What A Generation Sounds Like: intimate stories from young Europeans across the continent.
A beautiful visual version of this podcast will be available soon! In the meantime, check out the first visual podcast in this...2021-07-0127 min
The Europeans | European news, politics and cultureThe women who built EuropeStreets, cities, train stations: across the continent, they're likely to be named after men. What if the women who shaped Europe were given the recognition they deserve? This week, Katy speaks to the Irish journalist Mary Fitzgerald and Italian writer Francesca Cavallo, co-author of Good Night Stories For Rebel Girls, about a wonderful project which reimagines the Brussels metro map in celebration of brilliant European women. We're also talking about the row over LGBTQ rights at the Euro football tournament, and how unsexy-but-important housing policy brought down Sweden's prime minister.
You can explore the Capital of Europe...2021-06-2441 min
The Europeans | European news, politics and cultureThe best rainy city in the worldJens Thoms Ivarsson has one of this continent's most fascinating jobs: chief "rain man" for the city of Gothenburg. We chat to the creative director of Rain Gothenburg about the Swedish city's rather wonderful plan to become the best place in the world when it's raining. Also this week: expensive Finnish breakfasts, accidental asparagus, and why Budapest's plans to build a Chinese university campus have gone down so badly.
This week's Isolation Inspiration: "Inside the last matriarchy in Europe", Zero, and "Portrait of a pigeon racer".
You can read about Rain Gothenburg here in The...2021-06-1034 min
The Europeans | European news, politics and cultureThinker, Plaintiff, Merkel, SpyThis week, a murky spying scandal and a huge climate lawsuit. It seems that our American friends may have been using Denmark's internet cables to spy on European politicians. But how much did Denmark know about it? We're also talking about the landmark Dutch court ruling that could force Shell to drastically cut its carbon emissions. Plus, the European Review of Books! We chat to George Blaustein and Sander Pleij about why they're setting up a new magazine of ideas for the continent.
You can help crowd-fund the European Review of Books here and read about the...2021-06-0338 min
ARE WE EUROPEThis Is What a Generation Sounds Like: Josh and FrancoProducers: Katz Laszlo and Josh PreziosoEditorial support: Dominic Kraemer, Katy Lee, Andrei Popoviciu and Priyanka ShankarMusic: Tarantella del Gargano by Marco Beasley & represented by Out Here Music; Italian Opera by UV Protection; Andante (Italian Concerto) written by Bach and performed by Catrina Finch; Amore Mio by Mina with Warner Music Italy; Tomb by Veshza; La Luna E Fisarmonica by Ziv Moran; Disco Ball by Evgeny Barduzha, and Jim Barne.Additional music from Blue Dot Sessions: Kilkerrin by Scalcairn; Sylvestor by One Such Village; Angel Academy by Marc Oakley; Toby or not Toby by Mark Oa...2021-05-3135 min
The Inoculation -- Vaccine Misinformation and SocietyOn the Fence -- We talk to parents who are mulling vaccinationAcross Europe, some countries are about to finish vaccinating the most vulnerable residents against COVID-19. It’s time to offer the jab to the general population -- and some are not only refusing vaccines, but also calling on others to shun them. Research shows that neither more fact-checks nor more experts will tilt the population’s attitudes towards vaccines.
In this collaborative episode between Are We Europe and The Inoculation, we look into how parents find their way with so much confusing information online, and what approach to vaccine hesitancy works.
You can read more abou...2021-05-2814 min
The Europeans | European news, politics and cultureJosh and FrancoWe have a very special episode for you this week. From the south of Italy, a father and son's coming of age stories, told in parallel.
This is the first episode of our series This Is What A Generation Sounds Like: intimate stories from across the continent, as told by the young Europeans experiencing them.
This series is produced with Are We Europe and made in cooperation with Allianz Kulturstiftung, an independent not-for-profit cultural foundation committed to strengthening cohesion in Europe using the tools of art and culture. Find out more at kulturstiftung.allianz.de.
Producers: Katz Laszlo and Josh...2021-05-2733 min
The Europeans | European news, politics and cultureInventing an AlphabetThis week, Eurovision, panthers, and a celebration of Cyrillic writing. Ahead of a Cyrillic national holiday in several Eastern European countries, we chat to typography designers Maria Doreuli and Krista Radoeva about what makes the script so special. We're also talking about the Paris mayor's war on cars, and why Slovenia's populist prime minister is really, really into panthers. Plus, a special edition of Isolation Inspiration for the Eurovision nerds.
You can follow Maria and Krista here and here on Instagram and check out their Cyrillicsy design workshops here on Twitter.
Donate to Covax | Donate...2021-05-2040 minARE WE EUROPEReadout: The Generation GameIn 1974, the greatest Dutch team of all time had been beaten by West Germany in the World Cup Final in Munich. Fourteen years later, they returned to Germany under the same coach, Rinus Michels, and won the European Championships. To this day it remains their only major title, yet it is not so much the final that everyone remembers as the semi-final. The cathartic victory over the Germans in Hamburg was worth more than the trophy. It was revenge. This is a readout story from our latest magazine, which explores what can sports tell us about our i...2021-05-1714 min
The Europeans | European news, politics and cultureThe bear, the prince and the streaming giantLike everyone else, we Europeans have been watching a LOT of television over the past year. But something rather nice has been happening: we've been watching *each other's* television. Could streaming giants like Netflix be helping develop a shared European culture, as we all sit down to enjoy shows like Lupin and Money Heist? This week we speak to Jérôme Dechesne of European producers' group CEPI about the Europeanisation of binge-watching. We're also talking about the prince who apparently-accidentally shot Romania's largest bear, and the Belgian farmer who may have apparently-accidentally moved the French border.
Th...2021-05-1336 min
ARE WE EUROPEAre We Europe Presents: The Europeans (Unravelling a Scandal)The Oscar-nominated Romanian film Collective is enraging and inspiring in equal measure. This week we hear from Răzvan Luțac, one of the investigative journalists who uncovered the vast healthcare scandal at the heart of the film. We're also talking about a fascinating court case brought by young German climate activists, censorship allegations on Italian TV, and a missing finger.
Special thanks to Maja and Zoe in Ukraine, Ruben in Switzerland, Leo and Florence in France, Remy in the UK and Raul in Germany for lending us their voices to help us celebrate Europe Day this week. For more Eu...2021-05-1043 min
The Europeans | European news, politics and cultureUnravelling a ScandalThe Oscar-nominated Romanian film Collective is enraging and inspiring in equal measure. This week we hear from Răzvan Luțac, one of the investigative journalists who uncovered the vast healthcare scandal at the heart of the film. We're also talking about a fascinating court case brought by young German climate activists, censorship allegations on Italian TV, and a missing finger.
Special thanks to Maja and Zoe in Ukraine, Ruben in Switzerland, Leo and Florence in France, Remy in the UK and Raul in Germany for lending us their voices to help us celebrate Europe Day this we...2021-05-0641 min
ARE WE EUROPEBehind the Scenes: Sarah Sax on Sports, Identity and CapoeiraKyrill Hartog, Are We Europe's editor in chief, interviews Sarah Sax about her piece in our latest magazine called the Sports Issue. Sarah goes behind the scenes of writing the flagship piece, detailing the challenges and the different approach she had to take for this particular story. Produced and edited by Andrei Popoviciu and Priyanka Shankar
2021-05-0321 minARE WE EUROPEReadout: A Chess Set for the BrideFrom the 1960s to the 1990s, four Georgian women ruled the world stage—also including Nana Alexandria and Nana Ioseliani. Dubbed druzhina—a combat-unit—by commentators, they inspired a mushrooming of chess schools up and down the country. From our latest print magazine, this story explores the history of Georgian women chess players and their impact on the game. Produced and edited by Andrei Popoviciu and Priyanka Shankar
2021-04-2604 minARE WE EUROPEReadout: Meet the SnaggleratsDespite skateboarding’s inclusion in the Olympics and the recent push for equality, most skaters are boys. This story is from our latest magazine, The Sports Issue, and uncovers the story of "The Snagglerats". They used to skate at their local Livingston Skate Park—known as Livi—and would often be the only ones there. In 2019, filmmaker Parisa Urquhart, whose uncle Iain originally designed the park in 1981, saw them skating there, and decided to make a documentary about them. She called it Long Live Livi. Produced and edited by Andrei Popoviciu and Priyanka Shankar.
2021-04-1907 min
ARE WE EUROPEAre We Europe Presents: The Europeans (The Great Reverse Migration)For decades, Eastern Europe has suffered a massive brain drain of people heading abroad in search of opportunity. But something remarkable happened during the pandemic: huge numbers started coming back. Can they be convinced to stay? This week, Are We Europe present an episode from The Europeans Podcast, in which Katy and Dominic speak to urban researcher Ognyan Georgiev about his fascinating work tracking Bulgaria's returnees — and we get his predictions for which European cities are going to be the coolest in 20 years time. They're also talking about sexism in German football, Iceland's spectacular volcano eruption, and why Finland has...2021-04-1240 minARE WE EUROPEReadout: My Sister the CapoeristaPeople who see Capoeira being performed for the first time often ask the same question: is it a dance or a martial art? The music, percussion, rituals, and the way that players move elegantly around and with each other, their limbs and body parts rolling over one another like waves, gives its movements a dance-like aesthetic. And yet, the players are undeniably fighting and competing. This is a story from our latest magazine, The Sports Issue, and uncovers how a sport developed by enslaved Africans in Brazil helped one woman find—and keep—her footing in Europe. You c...2021-04-0518 min
The Europeans | European news, politics and cultureTaming Big TechEurope has big plans to regulate the giant internet companies that shape our lives. But just how much will they force the likes of Google and Facebook to behave? This week we ring up Andrii Degeler, host of the Tech.eu podcast, to explain the whole thing without putting us to sleep. We're also talking about the French village with an astonishing history of helping the persecuted; bingeing on movies on a lonely Swedish island; and why the EU's design might make it harder to fight poverty.
Listen to the Tech.eu podcast here (https://podcast.tech...2021-02-0333 minARE WE EUROPEOriginals: Oh crumbs!In this spoken word poem, Nikita Yasmin Shah reflects on the multiple strands of connectivity Britain has with former colonies and how this relationship has been erased. As a British-Kenyan-Indian, she sees different parts of her heritage in the everyday spaces of London.Produced and edited by Andrei Popoviciu and Priyanka Shankar. Music by Mastermindbeatmaker.
2020-12-1503 min