The People Will Talk Podcast

The story of those who fled. The story of those finding a home in Spain.  Music:  Passion  by Borrtex. 

Originally from England, she moved to Spain at a young age. Amy told us about discovering interesting corners of the country, working in a 'mini UN', being from two cultural backgrounds, and so much more. Listen to Amy's wonderful shows here . Photo credit: The towers of Radio Exterior, courtesy of RTVE. Music:   Flute Street by Poddington Bear & Circles Around the Sun by Mr. Smith.

We look at an interesting documentary where a woman tells a big lie, and we cast our gazes at the uneven, ultimately more than the sum of its parts, The Wonder . As always, enjoy! Photo credit: The Wonder (2022), Element Pictures and Screen Ireland. Music:   Pictures of the Floating World & Someday by Sergey Cheremisinov.

Lara Wong is an award-winning Canadian flautist who masterfully combines the bansuri, the traditional Indian flute, with flamenco music. We talk about her musical journey, her experiences working with Spanish musicians and her amazing achievements in the world of flamenco, including being the first foreigner to win in any category of the festival Cante de las Minas's 60-year history, and the first...

INAD (Infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy) is a devastating ultra-rare condition that affects children from a very early age. Rebecca Skeates tells us about her family's experience with the condition, search for a cure and her deep involvement in INADCURE Spain. Their campaign aims to raise 7 million dollars/euros to fund a new gene therapy clinical trial. It seems a lot, but if 1 million people donat...

Anita Haas is an award-winning Canadian writer and English teacher based in Madrid. We speak to her about her experiences living in Spain, her inspiration for her short stories and poems, and her latest venture, a children's book which she has written and illustrated herself. She also tells us what is like to live, work and write with achromatopsia, a visual condition that prevents her from seeing...

Alice in Wonderland has inspired artists endlessly since it was published. But what is down the rabbit hole? We visit Fundación Canal exhibition "Alicia en el País de las Maravillas", showcasing the story's influence in Dalí, Ernst, Laurencin and Tenniel, all of whom illustrated different versions of the book, as well as their influence in our understanding of Alice. Photo credit: Moldy Vintage. M...

This autumn is seeing the anticipated release of the English version of El Infinito en un junco (Irene Vallejo, 2019) under the name Papyrus . The invention of books in the ancient world . We have had the tremendous pleasure to interview the two women that have made it happen, Irene Vallejo (author and Essay of the Year recipient) and Charlotte Mae Whittle (English translator for both US and UK ed...

Madrid & Darracott is not just about the wine. It's also about the experience. This Anglo-Spanish duo that opened shop in the centre of Madrid are tremendously passionate about wine and about having fun, and it is impossible not to be infected by their enthusiasm. They tell us about their perception of Spanish wine in Spain, about their tastings and events and give us a few useful tips on how...

Álvaro is a very creative and well-read individual. Over the course of our chat, we discuss his many writing influences, the Irish language, the joys and headaches associated with launching his own zine series, and as always, so much more.  Check out his Sadwrn website , where you can see and buy his wonderful zines. Incidentally, 'sadwrn' is Welsh for Saturn! He is also on Facebook . Enjoy!  Our...

María José Rodríguez Becedas is a Spanish lawyer who is helping these women make their way to Spain, and once here, build a new life. She tells us about the many challenges faced by these refugees, as well as the inspiring work being done by her and her organization. To find out more, visit mas-democracia.org . Music: Skyline Horizon by Rho and Someday by Sergey Cheremisinov. Photo Credit: María J...

David Price is the proud owner of The Secret Kingdoms bookshop in Madrid's Barrio de las Letras, a natural storyteller and an aspiring novelist himself. In this podcast episode, he unveils the secret of his success opening a full English bookshop in Madrid and gives us some insights into the book business, as well as some general life tips. Enjoy!  Facebook: El Arpa Instagram: El_Arpa_ Twitter: El...

Madrid's wonderful Secret Kingdoms bookshop hosted our conversation with Dr Chris Naunton , who is an author, TV personality and Egyptologist extraordinaire. With our illustrious guest, we spoke about inspiring future generations, colonialism, how to use a trowel, and so much more. We also get María's insight into the event, as she was the one asking the questions. And one of the co-hosts - who in...

Delving into the world of ancient inspiration, sustainable living, and our very own photographic exhibition. For more info, read this , and see the photos here . To see María's book, follow this little link ! Music: Pictures of the Floating World by Pale Tussuck, Crowander by Celtic, and Someday by Sergey Cheremisinov. Photo Credit: María Correas.

This restaurant can be seen in the Fundación Pablo VI, which is hosting an exhibition about other lives, featuring photos about Africa, Pakistan, China, and Bolivia. It is a wonderful opportunity to see the experiences of ordinary people around the globe, with bustling markets, thronging streets, lonely churches, and mud-brick houses. Also in this episode: three engaging documentaries feature in P...

What's in a look, a moment? What is it about the quiet slices of introspection; the spark in a group; the crackle in a duo; or the wild, exaggerated - yet compelling - performance of one actor? The answer, tied to so many variables and factors, from all decades of cinema, across big screens and small, is quixotically and brilliantly subjective.  Sit back and listen to us discuss and debate Heat ,...

Paul was so kind and generous with his time, and he discussed his musical pursuits, humanism, the meaning of things and finding identity through language. We also delved into his poetry and collaborations with luminaries such as Iris Murdoch.  For a snapshot of all the incredible things he's done, check out his Wikipedia page.  Enjoy!  Facebook: El Arpa Instagram: El_Arpa_ Twitter: Elarpa1 Blog: I...

We were lucky enough to chat with him and hear about his time photographing The National and famous Hollywood actors. Graham also gave us insight into American life and regaled us with a great story about travelling to Ireland a few years ago. As a passionate campaigner and advocate for social justice, his work has been featured in major international publications. Check out his website here . Enj...

Believe it or not,  Beti Jai is the Basque for 'never stop partying', and it's also the name of the frontón court that has reopened in Madrid. It is an old sport and the stadium is a wonderful wooden edifice, acting as a link to the past and a testament to how Madrid is bursting with a wide mix of culture.  And a drunk guy crashed bumper to bumper... wait a minute, where's me registration plate? O...

Roy was so generous with his time and a pleasure to have on the podcast! We spoke about rubbing shoulders with some of Ireland's great balladeers, emigration, social issues, Irish chart success, a Grammy nomination, and even a little bit about Garth Brooks. Listen to Roy's wonderful music on YouTube and Spotify . You can also find him on social media. Follow us on our socials: Facebook: El Arpa In...

We walked it just for you, capturing the sights, the sounds, and the vibe of a building that has stood in the heart of Madrid for many years. In the midst of the hustle and bustle, we consider how the Spanish capital is changing, characters from Cervantes, and as always, much, much more. Apart from some sirens at the very start, it's easy listening!  And before you go, read our blog post about Lan...

We ponder mindbending mirrors, cider-heads, feathers, Pisa, reality, psychology, neuroscience and the meaning (or lack of) behind the mystery of the Magritte Machine. And before you go, read our blog post about Lana del Rey and Ireland.  Facebook: El Arpa Instagram: El_Arpa_ Twitter: Elarpa1 Books: Fake News and Verano del 69 . Music: Triple and Fully Paid by Ketsa. Photo Credit: The False Mirror ...

A night of reading, presentations and music, where we got to grips with Joyce's love of dancing, sport and food, and where we happily got lost in the worlds of Dubliners , Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man and Ulysses .  A huge thank you to everyone who participated and who came to celebrate with us. And before you go, read our piece about James Joyce and Bloomsday.  Facebook: El Arpa Instagram...

We went to Casa America to see Rincones Geométricos by Francisco Ubilla and two other installations. After that, we popped along to the Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas. Join us on this cultural rollercoaster! And before you go, read about our upcoming James Joyce event in Madrid. It's awesome.  Facebook: El Arpa Instagram: El_Arpa_ Twitter: Elarpa1 Books: Fake News and Verano del 69 . Music: T...

Bill Barker is an insightful and witty guest, and it was a pleasure chatting to him about the joys of Kerouac, the writing process, getting published, life, famous neighbours and so much more. Oh, and a chance and exciting encounter with Monty Python's Terry Gilliam! Find his book Belly Up! here , and his blog, - with flash fiction, poems, absurdity and bits - can be read through this link . Music...