English Language Broadcast

The housing crisis in Spain seems to have reached a tipping point. The eviction of Maricarmen , an 87-year-old woman with disability, has been the final straw. She has become a symbol of a broader social issue, sparking an uproar and widespread protests that have forced the government to take action. In this week's broadcast, we discuss Maricarmen's case and the housing crisis in Spain w...

The number of femicides committed in Spain so far this year is absolutely horrific. These murders represent the most extreme form of gender-based violence , an issue which we address in this interview with Marta Fraile , a full professor and deputy director at the Institute of Public Goods and Policies of the Spanish National Research Center (CSIC). Professor Fraile analyses the ways in which the...

In today’s program, we inform you about a very special documentary: Cuelgamuros, between the difficult and the impossible . For the first time, a television crew has managed to film inside the crypts of the Valley of Cuelgamuros, in Madrid, that house the remains of 33,800 Civil War victims since 1959. We have interviewed its co-directors Belén Alonso and Manu Diéguez and also...

Last Friday marked the 25th anniversary of the attacks of 11 September 2001 . This tragic event radically transformed global airport security and US foreign policy and marked the beginning of the so-called ‘war on terror’. To talk about what happened that day, we interview Mónica Dixon , a Hispanic-American painter living in Oviedo who happened to be in New York on those days. O...

Forty-five years later, the "Great Circus" of Formula One returns to Madrid . To learn more about the Madring circuit and the project impact on Madrid, we speak with Joaquim Hernández , relationship manager of the Spanish Grand Prix. Madrid is also hosting this weekend the ‘Back to the Book’ literary festival . Its third edition focuses on the internationalisation of S...

As the migratory crisis in Ceuta drags on and enters its second month, in this week's broadcast we analyse the Spanish Government's new draft bills on asylum and immigration with Elena Muñoz , national coordinator of the legal service at the Spanish Commission for Refugee Aid (CEAR). On the other hand, and as earthquakes continue rattling Granada, we discuss the ongoing seismic se...

Hundreds of earthquakes have shaken the province of Granada since 15 August, causing damage to homes and property, and disrupting residents' lives. We analyse this ongoing seismic sequence and its causes with Rosa María Mateos Ruiz , director of the Geological and Mining Institute of Spain (IGME). Dr Mateos Ruiz talks us through the pressing challenge of adapting our cities to such eve...

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention , the cornerstone of refugee protection guarded by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees ( UNHCR ). To discuss the challenges faced by humanitarian aid organisations and the situation of asylum seekers in Spain, we are joined by Paula Barrachina , Director of External Relations and Communication at the UNHCR. Ahead of...

Digital gaming environments can be a breeding ground for disinformation , but video games can also be used to combat so-called 'fake news'. In this interview, we explore both aspects of the gaming world with Salvador Gómez García , a professor and researcher of Journalism, New Media and Game Studies at Complutense University of Madrid (UCM). Escuchar audio

To commemorate the 90th anniversary of the murder of poet and playwright Federico García Lorca , we are joined by Sarah Arvio , a poet and translator who translated Lorca's work into English in her book Poet in Spain . A challenge and an intense process in which she felt a deep connection with the author from Granada. "It was as if I knew him myself", she tells us. Escuchar a...

This week marks 90 years since Federico García Lorca , one of the most universal authors in Spanish literature, was murdered in the early days of the Spanish Civil War. A poet, playwright, illustrator, and musician, his remains have not been found yet, but Lorca's voice still resonates today and continues to inspire. Joining us is Sarah Arvio , a poet and translator who has translated...

Spain experiences a  total solar eclipse  and becomes the world's astronomical epicentre. But that's not all: we will witness two more eclipses next year and in 2028. To help us better understand what actually happens during a solar eclipse and how to watch it safely, we are joined by  Pedro García Lario , an astronomer at the European Space Agency (ESA) and a membe...

Five years have passed since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan , which has become a living hell for women since. Khadija Amin is an Afghan journalist and activist who currently lives as a refugee in Spain, where she continues to raise her voice so that the world does not forget the plight of Afghan women. In this interview, she shares how her life changed on 15 August 2021, how she escaped K...

An unprecedented migrant surge in the Spanish city of  Ceuta  has left dozens dead and triggered a humanitarian crisis. We discuss this mass border crossing and the resulting geopolitical challenge with Professor  Francesco Pasetti , a senior researcher at the Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB). In this week's broadcast, we also examine the Spanish governme...

Spanish fashion designer Pilar Dalbat is showcasing some of her creations in the exhibition Fashion & Heritage in Motion in Málaga, alongside original pieces by iconic masters of Spanish haute couture, such as Cristóbal Balenciaga, Paco Rabanne and Manuel Pertegaz. Ms Dalbat joins us to give us a sneak peek of the show and to talk about her experience of creating her own brand, a...

The Spanish government recently approved a new anti-smoking bill . Although it still needs to be voted on by Parliament, the proposal has sparked debate, particularly regarding the new smoke-free areas it introduces, which include bar and restaurant terraces. Dr José María Martín-Moreno , a Professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health at the University of Valencia, stres...

As wildfires ravage Spain and displace thousands of residents across the country, the European Union has sent in aircraft and firefighters to help combat the flames. To talk about this EU response mechanism, we are joined by Anna-Kaisa Itkonen , a spokesperson for the European Commission. In this week's broadcast, we also talk about how artificial intelligence can improve the diagnosis and tr...

Scientists are currently exploring different ways in which artificial intelligence can improve healthcare and make patients' lives better. In the neurology field, this technology has great potential for diagnosing and treating dementia . Dr Vijaya B. Kolachalama , a Professor of Medicine and Computer Science at Boston University, and Stylianos Kokkas , a researcher at the Centre for Research...

As Spain suffers its worst summer on record in terms of wildfires , the European Union has sent in planes and firefighters to help combat the flames. We are joined by Anna-Kaisa Itkonen , a spokesperson for the European Commission, who explains how the EU civil protection mechanism works, the aid that has been deployed so far, and how the EU has prepared for this wildfire season. Escuchar audio

In a world where we are constantly bombarded with harmful beauty standards, the dance industry is particularly rife with them. However, a ballet show that challenges this aesthetic violence has stepped onto the scene: 'Sacresize', a choreographic piece featuring plus-size dancers, which aims to challenge traditional beauty standards in dance and celebrate body diversity. We spoke to the...

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...