English Language Broadcast

As Spain endures scorching temperatures amid the second heatwave of the summer, in this week's broadcast we discuss El Niño , a climate event which is already here and likely to strengthen rapidly over the coming months, increasing the risk of further heatwaves, droughts, heavy rainfall and other extreme weather events. To shed light on this climate phenomenon, how it interacts with gl...

2026 is the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists. Shepherding and transhumance are key for conserving land and cultural heritage, promoting biodiversity and ensuring the sustainable development of rural communities. We had the chance to talk to Javier de los Nietos and Paula Jarque , two young shepherds who are keeping these practices alive. Escuchar audio

With the Fourth of July approaching and 2026 marking the 250th anniversary of the United States' Declaration of Independence , in this week's broadcast we examine the often overlooked role played by Spain in the American Revolutionary War. Historian and researcher Kristine Sjostrom  tells us all about Spain's support for the Thirteen Colonies, which was initially a secret, and...

Spanish astronauts Sara García Alonso and Pablo Álvarez Fernández were chosen from thousands of candidates to become members of the European Space Agency (ESA) in 2022. An aeronautical engineer with a master's degree in aerospace engineering, Pablo Álvarez Fernández was one of five professional astronauts selected to join the ESA. Before that, he worked on t...

While Spain suffocates amid the first heatwave of the summer, in this week's broadcast we look far away into space by speaking with two Spanish astronauts: Sara García Alonso and Pablo Álvarez Fernández . An aeronautical engineer and a biomedical scientist, respectively, Pablo and Sara were selected from thousands of candidates to become members of the European Space Agen...

This Friday, the film 'Viva', the directorial debut of actress Aina Clotet, premieres in cinemas across Spain. It is one of the most anticipated Spanish film releases of the season. Shot in Cátalan, the tragicomedy explores themes including fear of death, dependence on romantic love and the will to live. The film won the Revelation Award at Critics' Week, the Cannes Film Fest...

In this week's broadcast, within the framework of the visit of Pope Leo XIV to the Canary Islands , we analyse the situation of migrants arriving there and the organisations that support them. One such organisation is CEAR, the Spanish Commission for Refugee Aid . One of their workers, Sara Hernández,  told us about the circumstances these people are fleeing, the difficulties they...

In this week's broadcast, we discuss the changes to the education system that Sonia Díez , president of Fundación EducAcción, and Ndaba Mandela , chair of the Mandela Institute for Humanity, want to see, in order for it to adapt to the challenges of today's world. We had the opportunity to discuss this with them at a recent event in Madrid. Both Díez and Mande...

This week, we bring you a special broadcast from the Madrid Book Fair , which takes place in the heart of the city at El Retiro park and brings together authors, publishers and book lovers. We had the opportunity to chat with some of these readers, as well as authors Kathryn Stockett  and Greta García . Kathryn Stockett is best known for her debut novel, The Help , which sold mill...

When Kathryn Stockett published her debut novel, it was an unexpected success. The Help sold over 15 million copies worldwide and was translated into 38 different languages. The best-selling book was later made into an equally successful film featuring Viola Davis, Emma Stone, and Octavia Spencer, who won an Academy Award for her role. However, Stockett did not publish another book for 17 years. N...

In this week's broadcast, we analyse the ongoing efforts towards having an EU-wide legislation against sexual violence  which defines rape on the absence of consent. To gain a better understanding of the steps being taken to make this transnational law a reality and the challenges involved, we spoke with Lina Gálvez , Chair of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equali...

The International Council of Museums established International Museum Day in 1977 to raise public awareness of the role of museums and promote their importance in the development of society. This year, the museums around the world, have celebrated on May the 18th the International Museum Day under the theme "Museums Uniting a Divided World." To mark the occasion, we visited the National...

Following Augusto Pinochet's arrest in London in 1998, his team approached British lawyer Philippe Sands . They wanted him to represent the Chilean dictator. "I would have done it, but my wife said she would divorce me if I did the case," Sands tells the English Language Broadcast. Instead, he ended up representing Human Rights Watch in the case against Pinochet. Last year, he publi...

In this week's broadcast, we interview Philippe Sands , a lawyer, writer and international law expert. Having been involved in the Pinochet case in the '90s, and currently acting as counsel in the landmark genocide case against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice, Sands reflects on the definition of genocide, and on Donald Trump's disregard for international law. "The...

The hantavirus outbreak on board the Hondius cruise ship has reignited fears and sparked a political confrontation in Spain. To shed some light on the true extent of this health crisis, we are joined by  Dr Daniel López-Acuña , an epidemiology and global public health expert, and former World Health Organization executive. "This outbreak does not pose pandemic or epidemic t...

This week, we are joined by Spanish photographer Luis Tato , who was recently awarded the World Press Photo prize in the Africa category. Having witnessed firsthand the growing difficulty and danger of practising journalism while reporting on conflicts in East Africa, Tato calls for more respect and protection for reporters and photographers. We also examine the increasingly dangerous situation fa...

Gareth Thomas is living proof that you can have an active, full life while being HIV positive. On a mission to fight stigma, the Welsh rugby legend joins us on the English Language Broadcast after running a half marathon in Madrid to debunk the myths and misunderstandings that still surround HIV today. "So many people have an image of people who live with HIV to be weak. I choose to be strong...

To celebrate World Book Day, we visit Desperate Literature, an international bookshop in the heart of Madrid. Co-owner Terry Craven gives us a tour and recounts the bookshop's history, from sleeping in the store in the early days, to being forced to relocate amid a dire real estate market after an investment fund bought the previous premises. Terry also tells us all about the events held at D...

To mark World Art Day, we explore the history and cultural significance of Guernica , Pablo Picasso's iconic masterpiece, which has become a universal symbol of civilian suffering in times of war. Joining us to discuss the painting is  Pepe Karmel , an Art History professor at New York University and a world authority on Picasso's work. We focus in particular on the many journeys th...

In this week's broadcast, we interview  Nadia Calviño , President of the European Investment Bank (EIB). Against the backdrop of the war in the Middle East, and with the EIB having quadrupled its funding for defence-related projects since 2024, Calviño asserts that Europe must "break free from its dependence on fossil fuels" and become autonomous in terms of secur...