Europod & Sphera • News

They call it Europe’s backbone: the rural heartlands. Covering more than 80 percent of the EU’s territory but home to less than 30 percent of its population, rural areas are vital for food, biodiversity, and climate resilience, yet face population decline, ageing communities, poor infrastructure, and limited digital access. In this episode of Europe Talks Back, Evi Kiorri explores what life is really like far from the cities, speaking with Emanuele Monaco, who left urban life to build a distillery in rural Puglia, Italy. Through his story, we uncover both the challenges and the opportunities of rural life: from revitalising communities and sustainable farming to attracting young families and new ideas. Join us as we examine how policies, investment, and community effort could shape the future of Europe’s countryside.Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: By Europod, in co production with Sphera Network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Work emails at night. Messages from your boss after dinner. The pressure to be “always on” has become the norm, blurring the line between work and life, and pushing more people toward burnout. In this episode of Europe Talks Back, we look at how digital tools, remote work, and workplace expectations are wearing us down and whether the growing push for a legal right to disconnect can turn things around.We spoke to Professor Claudia Pagliari, expert in digital health and tech ethics at the University of Edinburgh, to understand how constant connectivity affects our minds, our health, and our relationships and what really needs to change: the law, the culture, or both.Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: By Europod, in co production with Sphera Network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it really mean to be a rainbow family in the European Union? In this episode of Europe Talks Back,we explore the promise, and the shortcomings of the European Certificate of Parenthood, a regulation meant to ensure that parenthood rights are recognised across all 27 EU countries. From Spain to Bulgaria, Italy to Poland, we look at what’s happening when same-sex families cross borders, only to find that their legal status doesn’t always travel with them. To unpack the legal grey zones, the clash between national sovereignty and EU law, and what all this means for the children caught in between, we spoke with Professor Alina Tryfonidou, an expert in EU law and a leading voice on LGBTIQ+ rights. Despite hopeful rulings from EU courts, many rainbow families remain in limbo, a stark reminder that equality on paper doesn't always mean equality in practice.Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: By Europod, in co production with Sphera Network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Europe Talks Back, we explore how Europe's so-called culture wars are used to divert attention from structural economic issues.  With insight from political scientist and member of the Social Democrats Justus Seuferle and Politics Professor at the University of Bath, Aurélien Mondon, the episode examines how political and media discourse has shifted away from material concerns like wages, housing, and labour rights, towards debates on identity, migration, and “wokeness.” Our guests argue that this cultural framing distorts the concept of class and often benefits elite interests, while marginalising those most affected by economic inequality. Through this lens, we question who really shapes the public narrative in Europe, and who is excluded from it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Abortion remains illegal in Malta and highly restricted in Poland, despite ongoing pressure from European institutions to uphold reproductive rights. In this episode of Europe Talks Back, we examine the historical and current influence of religious institutions on abortion policy across Europe, and the political forces maintaining these restrictions. We are joined by Neil Datta, Executive Director and founder of the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights, and Magdalena Chrzczonowicz, Editor-in-Chief of OKO.press and contributor to the cross-border investigation Exporting Abortion, who share insights on how restrictive laws impact women and how cross-border initiatives are working to protect access to safe abortion care. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Femicide is not just a word. It's a tragedy, and a manifestation of the deep-rooted inequality women face in every corner of society. It’s not just the tragic end of a life; it’s the culmination of years of violence, abuse, and power imbalances that have been allowed to fester unchecked.Unfortunately, despite legal advancements, femicides remain a persistent issue across Europe. Some countries have introduced comprehensive laws to combat gender-based violence. But others still lack legal recognition of femicide as a distinct crime. In turn, the lack of official data about femicides in several countries further obscures the true scale of the problem. So, why, then, is the legal recognition of femicides a taboo? And, beyond that, are we doing enough as societies to respond effectively to femicides? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if you could work fewer hours without losing pay? Some European countries are already testing the four-day workweek, and the results are in higher productivity, happier employees, and less burnout. But while some are working less, others are working more, like in Greece, where a six-day workweek has been introduced in certain sectors. So, is Europe really moving toward a better work-life balance, or is the dream of shorter workweeks just a luxury for a lucky few?In this episode of Europe Talks Back, together with Barbara De Micheli (Head of the Social Justice Unit at Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini) and Catarina Bargas (Specialist on working time and work organization at the International Labour Organisation) we explore the shifts in work culture, the policies shaping our future, and what it really means to work to live, not just survive.This episode was hosted and produced by Evi Kiorri.The editing was done by Alexander Damiano Ricci.Sound editing was done by Daniel Gutierrez Ortega.And the Original sound theme is by Thomas Kusberg. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fast fashion is responsible for 8-10% of global carbon emissions, more than aviation and shipping combined, and its environmental toll continues to rise. The industry thrives on overproduction and overconsumption, flooding the market with cheap, disposable clothing that drives a growing textile waste crisis. Across Europe, millions of tonnes of textiles are incinerated, dumped in landfills, or exported to countries where waste management systems are overstretched, causing severe environmental and social repercussions.This episode explores the hidden costs of fast fashion and Europe’s response to this crisis with EU-wide regulations aimed at promoting circularity, reducing waste, and addressing microplastics.Experts Theresa Mörsen from Zero Waste Europe, and Lars Fogh Mortensen from the European Environment Agency provide insights into the systemic changes needed to tackle the impact of fast fashion, along with the role of governments, businesses, and consumers in creating a more sustainable future. Can Europe’s ambitious strategies reverse the tide of fast fashion and pave the way towards a circular textile economy?Join Evi Kiorri every last Wed of the month to dissect these and other themes at the heart of European debates. Production: By Europod, in co-production with Sphera Network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Europe Talks Back is a journalistic podcast that unpacks the social, political, environmental, and cultural events and trends shaping Europe today. Combining the sharp expertise of guests from the field of politics, economy, and NGOs with unique insights based on on-the-ground reporting of independent media, Europe Talks Back offers a fresh perspective on European matters, which goes beyond the headlines.Join Evi Kiorri every last Wed of the month to dissect these and other themes at the heart of European debates. Production: By Europod, in co production with Sphera Network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In your opinion, can protesting change anything? Many protests have been organized in Europe and the UK to denounce the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Despite the worsening of the situation, these mobilizations don’t seem to have a real impact, as the situation on the ground remains catastrophic.This leads our host Gail Rego to ask whether mobilization makes any difference. She discusses this with our guests Shabbir Lakha and Blackbird!Find the new episode on our website and listening platforms.Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: EuropodFollow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sexuality education can play a central role in equipping young people with the necessary tools to further enjoy their sexuality and ultimately their human rights. Education about sexual and reproductive health and rights, more commonly shortened to sex-ed, should also help young people to navigate their development, feelings and relationships. In Europe, sex ed is mandatory in nearly every country, but in others - like Italy - it is still left out of school programmes. Even when included, sex ed can differ significantly in terms of the content and at what age it is provided, which leaves many young people without the necessary information and skills. In addition, we have recently witnessed a rise of opposition against sex ed in Europe, led by far-right movements and anti-gender groups. So what is the current status of sexual education in schools in Europe? Are there other ways to learn about sexuality? And how can we deal with this backlash?In this last episode of the third season of Europe Talks Back, host Gail Rego, Florina-Marieta Neagu, an expert on European youth activism, who works at AEGEE / European Students'​ Forum and Isabella Borelli, an Italian transfeminist activist promoting the introduction of sexuality- and emotional- education in Italian schools.Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: EuropodFollow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sexuality education can play a central role in equipping young people with the necessary tools to further enjoy their sexuality and ultimately their human rights. Education about sexual and reproductive health and rights, more commonly shortened to sex-ed, should also help young people to navigate their development, feelings and relationships. In Europe, sex ed is mandatory in nearly every country, but in others - like Italy - it is still left out of school programmes. Even when included, sex ed can differ significantly in terms of the content and at what age it is provided, which leaves many young people without the necessary information and skills. In addition, we have recently witnessed a rise of opposition against sex ed in Europe, led by far-right movements and anti-gender groups. So what is the current status of sexual education in schools in Europe? Are there other ways to learn about sexuality? And how can we deal with this backlash?In this last episode of the third season of Europe Talks Back, host Gail Rego, Florina-Marieta Neagu, an expert on European youth activism, who works at AEGEE / European Students'​ Forum and Isabella Borelli, an Italian transfeminist activist promoting the introduction of sexuality- and emotional- education in Italian schools.Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: EuropodFollow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zoos bring us much closer to wildlife, but their existence is a controversial topic. Go online and it’s easy to find groups that advocate for the closure of zoos, assessing that they do more harm than good to animals.Complaints usually relate to confinement, the lack of space, unnatural environments and crowded conditions as the main problems against animal well-being. But experts working in zoos think differently. So the question boils down to: are zoos actually beneficial to animals? Do they have a role to play in conservation? And what can we learn from zoos on the impact of human beings on animals still living in the wild?In this episode, we will investigate these questions with Martin Boye, President of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals, and Kate Werner, Senior Campaign Manager at PETA UK.Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: EuropodFollow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Cambridge dictionary defines fatphobia as the “unreasonable dislike or unfair treatment of people because they are fat”. Going deeper, Fatphobia equates fatness with ugliness, inferiority, and immorality. Subjecting people to fat phobia or weight stigma can be very harmful, not just to people who are fat but also to anyone else who has been co-opted by a system that designates only one “correct” body size or weight. But is fatphobia also an intersectional issue or opression? How does it relate to race, disability, colonisation and enslavement? In this episode we'll be discussing fatphobia and its intersectionality with racism. To do so, we are going to talk to Caleb Luna, a writer, fat activist and professor in the US. We will also be hearing from Saskia Calliste, a black London-based writer. Tune into episode 15 now!Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: EuropodFollow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we'll be discussing the results of the recent French legislative elections, which defied the predictions of most analysts. More than that, we'll be discussing the trends that have been shaping France's society for years now, from politics to the media industry. More specifically: what can explain both, the expectations of Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally party winning these elections, on the one hand, and the final success of progressive parties, on the other hand? The lead guest of this episode is Johan Weisz-Myara, founder and producer at Street Press. Born 15 years ago, Street Press is an independent media organisation which has broadly covered the life of young French citizens in the outskirts, or banlieus, of French metropolitan areas. In relation to the French elections, Street Press launched dozens of investigations into the French far-right over the past year and co-organised the biggest anti-far-right protests in the country, in Paris, ahead of the legislative elections. But, in this episode, we'll also hear from Nikita Rathod, Europod's Social Media Officer. Nikita discusses how she, as a young Indian woman, has been living the runup to the elections, these months.Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: EuropodFollow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we'll be discussing the the leading form of exploitation affecting persons who fall victim to human trafficking, that is: sexual exploitation. The term sex trafficking (or sexual trafficking), therefore, identifies human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation.This form of exploitation intersects with social and economic inequalities. Last but not least, conflicts such as the War in Ukraine can become triggers of new waves of exploitation. Along the episode, you'll hear stories from women who had been forced to sex work for over ten years, as well as from professionals, such as Dovilé Vainorė - Executive of the Lithuanian National Association Against Human Trafficking, who are trying to tackle this social plague.Tune into episode 13 now!Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: EuropodFollow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we'll be commenting on the results of the EU elections and try to make sense of the results and what this could mean for our future and rights. We'll speak with Quentin Aries, a journalist based in Brussels and the editor of Sphera Network, the first network of independent media in Europe to reinvent the media space and paint a new picture of the continent through impactful, unbiased, raw and authentic stories.Tune into episode 11 now!Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: EuropodFollow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we delve into the crucial role that the EU elections could have in combating racism across Europe. We'll be speaking with two inspiring young activists, Ebu and Zaineb, who bring diverse experiences as women of colour living in different parts of Europe. They'll share their insights on institutional racism, the importance of voting, and the power of youth activism in driving change.Tune into episode 11 now!Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: EuropodFollow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we’ll be speaking with 2 experts from the human rights space to unpack what we mean by our digital rights, how they are being protected or violated and who gets to decide what technology is needed for or against whom. Kahina Rabahi representing the European Anti-Poverty Network and Bibbi Abruzzini representing Forus, a global network of civil society organisations — will help us uncover how digitalisation impacts essential services and civic space.Tune into episode 10 now!Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: EuropodFollow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode uncovers the real threat trans- and non-binary persons face, often due to the actions of far-right groups and a climate of hate which can also be traced back to political discourses. We hear from Patricia Reguero, a Spanish journalist from El Salto, and her Greek colleague, Anastasia Vaitsopoulou, who work for the media outlet Propaganda.Tune into episode 9 now!Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: EuropodFollow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.