Briefed - Your Daily European Podcast

In this episode of Europe Talks Back, Gail Rego tells the story of Elmi, a 60-year-old man who emigrated to Poland twenty-seven years ago from Somalia. Elmi started a new life in Poland's capital Warsaw and in 2007 established the Foundation “Good Start” in order to help newly arrived migrants with navigating the complex asylum process, translating official documents, arranging hospital visits, an...

This special episode of Europe Talks Back is the second part of the recording of a panel debate held on the 12th of October at   Bozar  in Brussels, moderated by Alexander Damiano Ricci and organized by Sphera Media Lab and Arty Farty .   Today, Alexander Damiano Ricci and his guests discuss how podcasts have increased the quality of information in the European media landscape and h...

In this special episode of Europe Talks Back, Alexander Damiano Ricci and his guests discuss how podcasts incorporate alternative and independent points of view and how they improve the quality of the information in the European media landscape, but also how podcasting has changed the professional mindset of the panelists.   Today’s episode is the first part of the recording of a panel debate...

Producer Alexander Damiano Ricci invites April Clare Welsh to discuss her work as a reporter and scriptwriter for the previous podcast episode “Porto, please don’t stop the music”. April Clare Welsh recalls how she got in touch with an underground music community and hub in Porto, called STOP. She also talks about the systemic deficiencies of public funding in the cultural sector in Portugal, high...

In this episode of Europe Talks Back, Juli Simond tells the story of Bruno Costa, a Porto-based musician who has become the president of a musicians, artists, and shopkeepers association called Alma Stop. The association was set up to protect the interests of the people who use the spaces at CC Stop -or just Stop - a four-story shopping centre that has been sustaining Porto’s underground music sce...

Producer Alexander Damiano Ricci invites Katie Jickling to discuss her work as a reporter and scriptwriter for a previous podcast episode, “Being trans in the Catholic Church”. The conversation explores the relationship between the Church and LGBTQ people, the polarization of such issue in politics, and examines what are the costs and challenges of activism at a personal level.   Also in the...

In this episode of Europe Talks Back, Juli Simond tells the story of Phyla Kupferschmidt, a 36-year-old trans woman originally from Canada but now living in Leuven, Belgium. As a transgender and Catholic person, Phyla has had a rough relationship with the Church and the congregation she is part of, but she has managed to bridge cultural divides and challenge stereotypes about gender and faith thro...

Producer Maria Dios invites journalist Pablo Jiménez Arandia to discuss his work as a reporter and scriptwriter for the previous episode, “Social media and mental health: How being permanently on Twitter can lead to self-destruction”. The conversation explores how platforms like Twitter and TikTok can foster unrealistic expectations and negatively impact self-esteem and self-perception, and the re...

In this episode of Europe Talks Back, Juli Simond tells the story of Pit-Roig Vinyals, a German language teacher based in Barcelona, Spain. Diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) at age 23, Pit-Roig turned her personal battles into a mission, emphasising on mental health stigma dismantlement and open conversations that were once con...

Producer María Dios invites journalist Sophie Smith to discuss her work as a reporter and scriptwriter for a previous podcast episode, "Post-separation abuse in the UK: The fight for freedom". The conversation explores the dynamics of domestic and post-separation abuse in the UK. Sophie Smith delves into the hurdles that survivors confront within the family court system, unveiling a complex system...

In this episode of Europe Talks Back, Juli Simond tells the story of Charlotte, a resilient mother who battles through the post-separation abuse she endured for over a decade in the UK. Trapped in an abusive relationship, she fought for her newborn child's safety with every ounce of strength she had. But just as she thought she had escaped her abuser's clutches, she stumbled upon a cruel truth. Th...

Producer María Dios invites Italian journalist Maria Colonna to discuss her work as a reporter and scriptwriter for a previous podcast episode, "Italy's shrinking lakes: the case of Como". The conversation explores the water crisis at the heart of Italy's climate emergency. Maria Colonna uncovers the hidden impact of climate change on picturesque Lake Como as she highlights the need to raise aware...

In this episode of Europe Talks Back, Juli Simond tells the story of Filippo, a geologist and environmental guide, living in Como. Filippo discusses the impact of drought on Lake Como's ecosystem. He shares his concerns about the changing rainfall patterns and how they have led to fluctuating water levels, landslides, and floods. These extreme weather events have a significant impact on not only t...

Producer María Dios invites Greek journalist Jenny Tsiropoulou to discuss her work as a reporter and scriptwriter for a previous podcast episode, " From Ghost Towns to Vibrant Communities: The Musicians ex Machina experience ". The conversation centers around a unique music festival held in abandoned villages in Greece. Jenny explains that she chose to focus on Dimitris Mistakivis, a professional...

In this episode of Europe Talks Back, we travel to Greece, where renowned musician Dimitris Mystakidis ignites deserted Greek villages with the power of music, as he resolutely strives to bring life and community back to these abandoned spaces, despite political interference and the challenges of revitalisation. Reporting for this episode by Jenny Tsiropoulou. Music cannot fix the structural issue...

Producer María Dios interviews Spanish journalist Pablo Jiménez Arandia . Pablo was Europe Talks Back's reporter on the ground for the previous episode, " Youth Homelessness: How to survive the streets when you are under 25 ". In this podcast, Pablo shines a spotlight on the housing crisis in Europe through the captivating story of Mohammed, a young man who experienced homelessness in Barcelona. Y...

In this episode of Europe Talks Back host Juli Simond tells the story of Mohammed Bouzghaia, a resilient young man who has faced some of life's most formidable challenges head-on. Born and raised in Morocco, Mohammed chose to set sail for Spain, a trip riddled with adversity, with the hope of a brighter future. He found himself surviving alone on the streets of Barcelona where he faced language ba...

Producer María Dios interviews Italian journalist Irene Fodaro . Irene was Europe Talks Back's reporter on the ground for the previous episode, " The future is now: Closing the age gap in climate action movement ". In this podcast Irene delves into the captivating world of climate activism in France, exposing the generation gap and the inspiring fight of a 70-year-old activist facing tear gas, to...

In this episode of Europe Talks Back we bring to you the story of Karen from France, who, despite retiring, decided to join Greenpeace. Karen explains why age should not be a barrier to making a difference in societal struggles. As a relatively older activist, Karen also emphasizes the importance of educating people of all ages about the perils of climate change and working together in unity to cr...

German journalist Sarah Tekath exposes the ironies of progress and struggle in the Netherlands, discussing the challenges faced by people of color. Sarah is the reporter and scriptwriter behind Europe Talks Back's previous episode, What Color is Dutch? Lifelines twisted by bias . In that episode, Sarah highlighted Marisella de Cuba's activism against racism and colonial history. About Sarah Tekath...

Although the Netherlands is internationally seen as a progressive country, the reality that many ethnic groups experience daily looks very different from the inside. In fact, over the past few decades, an ongoing battle against institutional racism has been taking place in the country. In this episode of Europe Talks Back, host Juli Simond tells the story of Marisella de Cuba, who was born on...

Disability representation is crucial for creating an inclusive society that values diversity and human rights. Disability representation in media and government can help break down social barriers, promote understanding and empathy, and empower disabled individuals to fully participate in society. Guest speaker Anna Romandash - also reporter and scriptwriter of ep1 of Europe Talks Back ( Disabilit...

Once the Russian invasion of Ukraine started, people with disabilities suffered tremendously. And amid the panic and chaos that followed the invasion, many were unable to evacuate from their homes. This left people trapped in the crossfire without access to bomb shelters. In the first episode of the second season of Europe Talks Back, host Juli Simond tells the story of Tetyana Herasymova, wh...

In the second episode of a special series of two, host Alexander Damiano Ricci talks to Stefano Valentino , an investigative freelance journalist who covered a case of greenwashing involving the French tire producer, Michelin, for the pan-European online media, Voxeurop . In particular, this podcast conversations uncovers the loopholes of green certification processes on financial markets. The ori...

Designed to support sustainable development projects, green finance is not always what it seems. A "green"-certified project led by Michelin in Indonesia may well have contributed to the destruction of the rainforest, thus deceiving its ecologically-minded investors. In the first episode of a special series of two, host Alexander Damiano Ricci talks to Stefano Valentino , an investigative freelanc...