エピソード

  • Why are Europeans so bad at imagining the future?

    Why are Europeans so bad at imagining the future?
    2026/09/24
    When it comes to envisioning the future, what’s your type? The Positive? The Negative? The Uncertain? The Disconnected? No, these aren’t characters in a pop group or a teen movie – they’re the four ways of imagining a European future. So says Paweł Zerka of the European Council on Foreign Relations, a three-peat guest and true Friend of the Podcast. Paweł is back once more to walk us through this year’s European Sentiment Compass, “Future Nostalgia: Europe’s Unfinished Song”. Come for the Dua Lipa reference, stay because you’re a polling nerd like the rest of us. We’re also talking about British lawmakers’ quest to figure out why the UK does quite so badly at Eurovision and what the seizure of Nestlé and Auchan’s Russian assets says about the Kremlin’s finances. You can read this year’s European Sentiment Compass – which is, like us, supported by the European Cultural Foundation – and have fun categorising yourself here.FREE ON MONDAY NIGHT? Join Katy and Paweł for discussion and documentary-watching in Brussels on 28 September, or Dominic and Wojciech for a little post-truth democracy in The Hague. We have two tickets to give away to the event with Katy and Paweł, courtesy of our friends at Newframes. They’ll go to the first person who emails hello@europeanspodcast.com with TICKETS in the subject line, so get in there quick! There’s plenty more to our excellent conversation with Paweł. Supporters of the show who are signed up to our private feed can hear the second half of our chat, including the revelation that Poland, of all places, is a surprisingly optimistic corner of Europe. Sign up over here. Supporters also get lots of cool perks and the warm glow of supporting independent European journalism. So if you haven’t already, get in for the glow!This week’s Inspiration Station recommendations are Wojciech’s upcoming performance in The Hague(!) and Sorcha Richardson’s new album, “Draw the Outline”.Resources for this episode:Leave-Russia.org"The Russian assets of Nestlé, Auchan and the former Leroy Merlin have been transferred to the management of a company led by an interior ministry general" – Novaya Gazeta, 17 September 2026“Moose on the loose at Warsaw’s main station brings trains to a standstill” – Notes from Poland, 14 September 2026Co-hosts: Katy Lee and Dominic KraemerSenior producer: Katy LeeProducers: Morgan Childs and Wojciech OleksiakMixing and mastering: Wojciech Oleksiak Music: Jim Barne and Mariska Martina Intern: Inês RuivoThe Europeans is proudly produced using Europe’s own Hindenburg.Substack | Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Mastodon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | YouTube | Bluesky | hello@europeanspodcast.com
    続きを読む 一部表示
    56 分
  • Hooray for normalised boredom!

    Hooray for normalised boredom!
    2026/09/17
    This week, we’re attempting to solve some tricky problems. How can the EU tackle the ballooning housing crisis? Can we revive a cinema industry on death’s door? And how on earth can we get bureaucrats to communicate like human people in order to really, truly get something done? We’re unpacking plans for a new Affordable Housing Act and Macron’s attempt to save le cinéma, and we’re also getting an exclusive from the EU’s Directorate General of Memes, Satire, and Sober Fun, a.k.a. Fabio Mauri, the meme-maker who loves nothing more than to poke fun at Europe’s policymakers on Twitter and Instagram. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, et cetera.GET IN ON THE ACTION. Don’t just listen – get in on the fun! Did you know that just a small monthly donation to The Europeans helps us keep the good time rolling? AND… Did you know that that small monthly donation comes with cool perks? So much fun! Check us out at ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/europeanspodcast and see what’s cookin’. You can also make a donation via our website.This week’s Inspiration Station recommendations are the participatory art performance Make Noise taking place in Amsterdam this weekend (with thanks to the Belarusian poet Hanna Komar for calling it to our attention) and the European Citizens’ Initiative Right to Housing! Now and Forever.Resources for this episode:“Macron rallies to save the movies, imperiled by free platforms and generative AI” – Le Monde, 9 September 2026“French Box Office Surges Nearly 20% in First Half of 2026 as Local Films and Hollywood Hits Drive Recovery” – Variety, 10 July 2026“Malgré une année en demi-teinte avec près de 157 millions d’entrées dans ses salles de cinéma, la France demeure largement le premier marché européen” – Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée, 30 December 2025“The European Affordable Housing Plan” – The European Commission“Affordable Housing Act: European hosts need legal certainty too” – Airbnb, 9 September 2026Katz Laszlo’s reporting on Europe’s housing policies from our mini-series “Who Does It Best?”“Swimming pigs draw tourists to Greek island” – France 24, 11 September 2026Adorable swimming piglets via @trident_boatsCo-hosts: Katy Lee and Dominic KraemerProducers: Katy Lee and Morgan ChildsMixing and mastering: Wojciech OleksiakMusic: Jim Barne and Mariska MartinaIntern: Inês RuivoThe Europeans is proudly produced using Europe’s own Hindenburg.Substack | Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Mastodon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Bluesky | YouTube | hello@europeanspodcast.com
    続きを読む 一部表示
    1 時間
  • Will Meta's American makeover come to Europe?

    Will Meta's American makeover come to Europe?
    2026/09/03
    Last week, tech giant Meta reached a settlement in a lawsuit with nearly every state in the US over claims that it had knowingly harmed children with its addictive apps. It was a major turn of events in the growing movement to protect kids online – but what does it mean for those of us on this side of the Atlantic? This week, we’re bringing you a fascinating chat with Leanda Barrington-Leach, the executive director at 5Rights, an international NGO that seeks to protect children’s rights and wellbeing on the internet. We’re also unpicking the CIA chief’s visit to Moscow and the surprisingly effective tariff placed on small parcels from China.This week’s Inspiration Station recommendations are the proposed euro banknote designs and the Polish HBO series Proud.You can hear more of our conversation with Leanda over on Patreon.Resources for this episode:“China tightens grip on Europe’s car supply chain” – Financial Times, 11 August 2026“Chinese imports plunge 30% to 40% after EU tax on small parcels” – Euronews, 27 August 2026“CIA chief used Moscow visit to warn Russia against attacks on NATO allies, helping Iran” – Politico, 26 August 2026GIVE A LITTLE, GET A LITTLE (OR A LOT). Did you know that just a small monthly donation to The Europeans makes a big difference to our team? Better yet: did you know that that small monthly donation comes with lots of nice perks? Visit us over at ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/europeanspodcast and see what your pocket money can do for us – and for you. You can also make a donation via our website.STILL WANT MORE? Subscribe to our newsletter, Good Week Bad Week, and get more European news, culture, and general goofiness in your inbox each Friday. It’s free!Co-hosts: Dominic Kraemer and Wojciech OleksiakSenior producer: Wojciech OleksiakProducers: Morgan Childs and Wojciech OleksiakAudio editing: Monika ProbaMixing and mastering: Wojciech OleksiakMusic: Jim Barne and Mariska MartinaThe Europeans is proudly produced using Europe’s own Hindenburg.YouTube | Bluesky | Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Mastodon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Substack | hello@europeanspodcast.com
    続きを読む 一部表示
    57 分
  • What's on the line in Iceland's EU referendum (besides fish)?

    What's on the line in Iceland's EU referendum (besides fish)?
    2026/08/27

    This weekend, Icelanders go to the polls to determine whether the nation should pick up its EU accession talks where they left off in 2013. Ahead of the big referendum, we caught up with Icelandic journalist Elias Thorsson and Finnish analyst Minna Ålander, to better understand what the vote means for Iceland and what it could mean for the Nordic countries and the greater European Union. Maybe you’re somebody who can prattle on about how the devaluation of the Icelandic króna benefits the country’s international exports…and maybe you’re someone who can’t exactly remember which Nordic countries are in the EU. No matter which type of person you are, we promise, this episode is for you.

    Resources for this episode:

    • “Fear Of A European Iceland: A Nation At A Flashpoint Prepares For Referendum” – Elias Thorsson, The Reykjavik Grapevine, 8 May 2026
    • Minna Ålander’s Substack, Northern Flank Notes
    • “(Northern) European Integration” – Minna Ålander, Northern Flank Notes, 7 July 2026
    • “The Vote That Could Reshape Iceland | Prime Minister of Iceland, Kristrún Frostadóttir” – The Rest Is Politics, 27 July 2026

    DID YOU EVER KNOW THAT YOU’RE MY HERO? Patreon supporters, you are the wind beneath our wings. Everyone else, please consider joining them over at ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/europeanspodcast. You can also make a donation via our website.

    CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF US? Understandable. Subscribe to our newsletter, Good Week Bad Week, and scratch that Europeans itch once more each week. It’s free!

    Co-hosts: Dominic Kraemer and Wojciech Oleksiak

    Producers: Morgan Childs and Wojciech Oleksiak

    Mixing and mastering: Wojciech Oleksiak

    Music: Jim Barne and Mariska Martina

    The Europeans is proudly produced using Europe’s own Hindenburg.

    YouTube | Bluesky | Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Mastodon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Substack | hello@europeanspodcast.com
    続きを読む 一部表示
    48 分
  • Bad news isn't the only news

    Bad news isn't the only news
    2026/08/20

    Sally Hayden made a name for herself by documenting some of the worst human rights abuses of the 21st century. Now she’s written a new book… of love stories. This week we had the honour of sitting down with the decorated Irish journalist to discuss her latest release, This Is Also a Love Story, the (im)balance of good news and bad, and the oft-forgotten truth that, as Sally puts it, “humans exist at the center of geopolitics”. We’ve devoted the whole of this week’s episode to this challenging conversation, and we hope you’ll find it as thought-provoking as we did.

    You can learn more about Sally on her website (we highly recommend reading her 2023 speech to the European Parliament). Don’t miss her first book, My Fourth Time, We Drowned, and her new release, This Is Also a Love Story.

    This podcast would not be possible without our extraordinary Patreon family. If conversations like these inspire you, please consider joining them over at ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/europeanspodcast. You can also, as always, make a donation via our website. Many, many thanks.

    Co-hosts: Katy Lee and Dominic Kraemer

    Producers: Morgan Childs, Dominic Kraemer, and Wojciech Oleksiak

    Audio editing: Morgan Childs

    Mixing and mastering: Wojciech Oleksiak

    Music: Jim Barne, Mariska Martina and Blue Dot Sessions

    The Europeans is proudly produced using Europe’s own Hindenburg.

    YouTube | Bluesky | Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Mastodon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Substack | hello@europeanspodcast.com
    続きを読む 一部表示
    29 分
  • The great European air conditioning debate

    The great European air conditioning debate
    2026/07/30
    It’s not even August yet, and it’s been a long, hot summer. As temperatures climb and France and Spain fight to keep wildfires contained, we’re devoting the whole of this week’s episode to one of 2026’s most contentious debates: should Europe be using more air conditioning? With help from three experts, we’re picking apart the pros and cons of artificial cooling technology – and grappling with a handful of guilty feelings along the way.You can learn more about the wondrous upsides and significant costs of air conditioning from our guests: Eva Horn, a professor of cultural history at the University of Vienna; Diána Ürge-Vorsatz, a professor at Central European University and Vice Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; and Blanca Paniello Castillo, researcher at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health.Other resources for this episode:Eva Horn’s essay in Avery Review, “Air Conditioning: Taming the Climate as a Dream of Civilization”Eva’s book Klima: Eine Wahrnehmungsgeschichte“Europeans should learn to love the air-conditioner” – Stanley Pignal, The Economist, 18 June 2026“Energy demand and decarbonization in 2025 and beyond” – Diana Ürge-Vorsatz and Felix Creutzig, Nature, 20 January 2026“Air Conditioning Has Reduced Mortality Due to High Temperatures in Spain by One Third” (PDF) – The Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), 2023Redditer paints his Parisian roof whiteWant more of that sunny, summery vibe in your weekly news diet? Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter, Good Week Bad Week!BE A PART OF THE EUROPEANS’ FUTURE: In case you missed it, we’ve made some changes to our Patreon memberships and are giving members new perks for supporting our work. Visit ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/europeanspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ to take a look at what’s on offer. You can also, as always, make a donation via our website. Massive thanks to everyone who’s joined us already – you really do make this show possible ❤️Unsung: Cleaners is a documentary podcast bringing together the voices of cleaners across Europe, telling their stories in their own words. From invisible labour and night shifts to dignity and organising for change, the five-part series explores the human stories behind one of the world’s most essential – and most overlooked – jobs: cleaning. In the first episode, Hayat Elhore, a cleaner at the European Parliament in Brussels, shares what it’s like to clean a building that symbolises democracy – while often being treated as invisible. She pulls back the curtain on a typical day in the life of a cleaner.Co-hosts: Katy Lee and Dominic KraemerSenior producer: Katy LeeProducers: Morgan Childs, Dominic KraemerAudio editing: Morgan ChildsMixing and mastering: Wojciech Oleksiak and Monika ProbaMusic: Jim Barne, Mariska Martina and Blue Dot SessionsThe Europeans is proudly produced using Europe’s own Hindenburg.YouTube | Bluesky | Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Mastodon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Substack | hello@europeanspodcast.com
    続きを読む 一部表示
    55 分
  • The Europeans' 2026 Summer Playlist

    The Europeans' 2026 Summer Playlist
    2026/07/23
    Last month, we asked you for your favourite sunny, summery songs from across the European continent – and boy, did you deliver! This week we’re taking a break from the news to talk about some of the incredible music you introduced us to, by artists from Sweden to Serbia. GET IN ON THE FUN: We’re mixing things up over on Patreon and giving members new perks for supporting our work. Visit ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/europeanspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ to take a look at all the benefits. You can also, as always, make a donation via our website. A huge thank you to our supporters for making independent European journalism possible – we hope you’re as excited about what’s next as we are.Unsung: Cleaners is a documentary podcast bringing together the voices of cleaners across Europe, telling their stories in their own words. From invisible labour and night shifts to dignity and organising for change, the five-part series explores the human stories behind one of the world’s most essential – and most overlooked – jobs: cleaning. In the first episode, Hayat Elhore, a cleaner at the European Parliament in Brussels, shares what it’s like to clean a building that symbolises democracy – while often being treated as invisible. She pulls back the curtain on a typical day in the life of a cleaner.A huge thank you to the artists who made this week’s episode possible (and who’ve put a skip in our step over the past few weeks). Songs mentioned in this episode:“Caramello” by Rocco Hunt, Elettra Lamborghini, Lola IndigoCopyright 2022 Epic, Sony Music Entertainment Italy S.p.A. Qobuz | Spotify | YouTube“Volio BiH” by Dubioza KolektivCopyright 2012 EMDC Qobuz | Spotify | YouTube“Bean Udaí Thall” by HuartanCopyright 2024 Sliocht na Sí Records Qobuz | Spotify | YouTube“Jag kommer” by Veronica Maggio Copyright 2011 Universal Music ABQobuz | Spotify | YouTube“Amorgos” by Leonidas BalafasCopyright 2021 Leonidas BalafasSpotify | YouTube“Liūdna!” by Free FingaCopyright 2026 Free Finga and MB ŽiauruSpotify | YouTube“Dansjes Verplicht” by WoezelsCopyright 2019 Woezels Spotify | YouTube“Blond” by JaldaCopyright 2026 Universal Music ABQobuz | Spotify | YouTube“Lan Y Môr” by AdwaithCopyright 2020 Libertino RecordsQobuz | Spotify | YouTube“Je pense à vous” by Pierre de MaereCopyright 2026 Wagram Music/Cinq7, Wagram PublishingQobuz | Spotify | YouTube“Odi Dođi” by DJ Kovi & MC Mikri Maus Copyright 2017 Prti Bee GeeQobuz | Spotify | YouTube “Elukoor/Choir of Life” by Mari KalkunCopyright 2020 Aigu Om RecordsQobuz | Spotify | YouTube“Onomkeerbaar” by Eefje de VisserCopyright 2025 Sony Music Entertainment Netherlands B.V.Qobuz | Spotify | YouTube“Nemám zájem” by Něco NěcoCopyright 2025 DivnostiQobuz | Spotify | YouTube“Am Herz Vorbei” by Tristan BruschCopyright 2023 Four Music/Tautorat TonträgerQobuz | Spotify | YouTubeHEAR EVEN MORE SUMMERY EUROPEAN MUSIC: We’ve created playlists with all of our picks and yours. Listen in via your streaming service of choice below.The Europeans’ Summer Playlist ShortlistQobuz | Spotify | Apple | TidalListener Picks: The Europeans’ Summer PlaylistQobuz |
    続きを読む 一部表示
    47 分
  • Did Jared Kushner get scammed over his Albanian resort?

    Did Jared Kushner get scammed over his Albanian resort?
    2026/07/16
    It was a Bad Week for Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and you’re either the sort of person who is now rubbing their hands together cartoon-villain style, or… you’re probably not listening to this podcast. Construction is well underway for Kushner’s $4 billion Albanian holiday resort, but – in true Trumpian you-can’t-make-this-#$@!%-up fashion – it turns out the deeds for the land might be fake. There are *so many* zany details of this story, and we’re unpacking them all whilst having a little giggle at Kushner’s expense. Also in this episode: Have you ever wondered why you tend to drift to the left as you walk? Us neither, but it turns out: that westward wander is actually a natural human trait. We chat with researchers Iñaki Echeverría-Huarte and Claudio Feliciani about their offbeat discovery, which caught our attention when it appeared in the New York Times last month.PATREON SHAKE-UP: Visit ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/europeanspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ to take a look at the exciting changes to what we’re offering our supporters, from a new private podcast feed to one-on-one meetings with Katy and Dominic. We also welcome donations via our website, which come with all the same benefits except for access to our community chat. A huge thank you to our supporters for making our independent journalism possible – and we’re thrilled that you’re becoming an even bigger part of what we do.This week’s Inspiration Station recommendations are the little-known sporting event Le Tour de France and the novel ‘Glorious Exploits’ by Ferdia Lennon.Our friends at the European Cultural Foundation have generously given us five copies of their beautiful magazine, Common Ground, for our listeners. Email us at hello@europeanspodcast.com with MAGAZINE GIVEAWAY in the subject line to be in with a chance of getting your hands on one. And if you don’t need to spruce up your coffee table, you can also read it online here.Unsung: Cleaners is a documentary podcast bringing together the voices of cleaners across Europe, telling their stories in their own words. From invisible labour and night shifts to dignity and organising for change, the five-part series explores the human stories behind one of the world’s most essential – and most overlooked – jobs: cleaning. In the first episode, Hayat Elhore, a cleaner at the European Parliament in Brussels, shares what it’s like to clean a building that symbolises democracy – while often being treated as invisible. She pulls back the curtain on a typical day in the life of a cleaner.Resources for this episode:“Businessman who sold land for Kushner resort in Albania suspected of faking the deeds” – Reuters, 11 July 2026“Slap on the SPF and join the Flamingo Revolution” – Good Week Bad Week, 5 June 202618,300 young people leave Albania in one year, the highest decline in Europe” – Euronews Albania, 4 February 2026An Autocrat’s Guide to Destroying Local Media, our 2023 mini-series on press freedom in Central and Eastern Europe“Individual locomotor bias drives counterclockwise motion in pedestrian crowds” – Nature, 10 June 2026“Nearly Everyone, Everywhere, Veers Left When Walking” – New York Times, 10 June 2026Our delightful interview with European rail expert Jon Worth“The first EU pilot project for new cross-border services: from Praha to København with direct trains” – Railvolution, 26 June 2026This podcast was brought to you in cooperation with Euranet Plus, the leading radio network for EU news.Co-hosts: Katy Lee and Wojciech OleksiakAudio editing: Monika Proba, Wojciech Oleksiak, and Morgan ChildsSenior producer: Katy LeeProducers: Morgan Childs, Dominic Kraemer, Wojciech OleksiakMixing and mastering: Wojciech OleksiakMusic: Jim Barne and Mariska MartinaThe Europeans is proudly produced using Europe’s own Hindenburg.YouTube | Bluesky | Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Mastodon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Substack | hello@europeanspodcast.com
    続きを読む 一部表示
    1 時間 7 分