BRUBBLE: Recent Episodes
BRUBBLE
Conversations with young people in the Brussels Bubble | If you want to come on, please email me at brubblepodcast@gmail.com!
From the Isle of Man to Svalbard, from New Caledonia to Sint Maarten, there are a lot of European "Dependant Territories". So, in Dan and Simon take a look at all of them and examine who they are, what they do, and what makes them special.Check out pt 1 on YouTube, which released a few days ago: https://youtu.be/j8FVngMBkVMCheck out pt 2 on YouTube, which released a few days ago: https://youtu.be/GIpPe53TZUo
From Greenland to the Falklands, from Gibraltar to French Polynesia, there are a lot of European "Dependant Territories". So, in Dan and Simon take a look at all of them and examine who they are, what they do, and what makes them special. Tune in in a few days for Part 2!Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/j8FVngMBkVM
A bit of a different podcast this time around: I read some books in 2024. Here, I review them with a mixture of emotions.Watch this podcast in video format on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0C0MWkKfhU&t=9s. Timestamps:00:47 - The Mysteries (Bill Watterson & John Kascht)07:23 - Something Wicked This Way Comes (Ray Bradbury)10:50 - The Edible Woman (Margaret Atwood)17:56 - Hollywood (Gore Vidal)23:00 - The Last Empire (Gore Vidal)29:14 - A Decent Life (Todd May)34:47 - The Cider House Rules (John Irving)39:22 - Metamorphosis (Franz Kafka)44:07 - Cocksure (Mordecai Richler)47:11 - The Psychology of Money (Morgan Housel)53:08 - Joshua, Then and Now (Mordecai Richler)56:22 - Home Sweet Home (Mordecai Richler)1:01:39 - Straw Dogs & The Silence of Animals (John Gray)1:07:57 - Why Nations Fail (Daron Acemoglu & James A. Robinson)1:14:10 - Picture This (Joseph Heller)1:16:50 - A Sort of Life (Graham Greene)1:22:44 - Life Before Man (Margaret Atwood)++++++++++++++Music credits: Synth 52684 (1 with FX) by Beetlemuse. License: Attribution 4.0
From Qatargate to Hungarian MEPs and from Ibiza to Croatian "secret clubs", politics is filled with scandals. But scandals often say as much about the strength of our democracies as it does about the idiocrasy of those who get involved with them. In this (very long) episode of the BRUBBLE podcast, join Dan and Simon as we navigate a tier list of over 35 recent European political scandals. We unpack a lot of terrible behaviour, but also take a look at how each scandal changed Europe - for better or worse.And, of course, if you want to see our faces, check us out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uRrc9Ma744________________*Please note that the BRUBBLE podcast is solely a personal project that contains only personal views and is not related to any entities or organizations
Back for a summery-special, Dan and Simon take a look at 32 European tourism slogans to find out which one actually wants to make us go there. From Slovakia (Come to Slovakia Good Idea) to the UK (See Things Differently) to Latvia (Magnetic Latvia), there's a range of tourism slogans out there, from corporate blandness to creative misses. So, what makes a good slogan? Which nation really did it best? Well, listen and let us know!And, of course, if you want to see our faces, check us out on YouTube: https://youtu.be/hEeKvfhD-N4________________*Please note that the BRUBBLE podcast is solely a personal project that contains only personal views and is not related to any entities or organizations
As we head into the summer of 2024, we’re coming off the European parliamentary elections – a moment serving as the inflection point each 4 years for setting the agenda of European politics. But let’s rewind a few years to 2016, where digital emerged – and has remained – as a top priority for the EU. However, while we all agreed on the urgency, we didn’t all agree on the actions to be taken. In this context, we saw a group of EU digital frontrunners form the “Digital 9” (or, D9) with the aim of growing the European digital market. Today, I’m joined by Clara – and we’re going to unpack who the D9 are, what they’ve done, and how we think they’ll grow and evolve into the next few years.________________Do check out Clara's recent publication for CEPA unpacking the D9+: https://cepa.org/comprehensive-reports/boosting-europes-digital-leaders-a-new-momentum-for-the-d9/And, if you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or connect with me on twitter @simon_vanhoeve)!________________*Please note that the BRUBBLE podcast is solely a personal project that contains only personal views and is not related to any entities or organizations
Time is something universal that nobody escapes – not even the policy and advocacy people or our world! While we all know there are debates about issues like Daylight Savings Time and Time Zones, Time Policy is a field that can go much deeper to explore political, social, and economic inequalities. Today, spend some time with us on the BRUBBLE podcast as I talk to Ariadna, who’s a full-time advocate of Time. She joins me to open our perspectives on what Time is, and how we can use it to explore some key challenges we face, from the local to the international level.________________And, if you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or connect with me on twitter @simon_vanhoeve)!________________Please note that the BRUBBLE podcast is solely a personal project that contains only personal views and is not related to any entities or organizations
Every month or so, we sit down here at the BRUBBLE podcast to do a more fun episode looking at various parts of European culture... From Picasso to Monet, and da Vinci to Munch, European countries have produced some great artists who've made some great paintings. But... which country has the best painting? Join Simon and Dan as we spend a few hours trying to figure that out!And, go watch along on YouTube as well, where you can see all the paintings as we discuss! https://youtu.be/uRCZyQbaCl8________________And, if you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or connect with me on twitter @simon_vanhoeve)!________________*Please note that the BRUBBLE podcast is solely a personal project that contains only personal views and is not related to any entities or organizations
Financial literacy is one of the most important skills one can have. And while this skill is not exactly commonplace in Western Europe, the picture becomes even more drastic when looking at Eastern Europe – where in some countries, up to 80% of adults can be considered financially illiterate. In particular, woman can particularly be impacted by this gap. Cristina saw this gap – and started FeminEast, a movement to educate more women in Eastern Europe about financial literacy. Join us today as we discuss why financial literacy is so important, how it impacts different people across Europe, and also examine what can be done from the European level. ________________Feel free to connect with Cristina Reach on instagram @cristinapogo / https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristinapogo/ Check out FeminEast: - Website: www.femineast.eu - Instagram: @femin_east / https://www.linkedin.com/company/femineast Learn more about some of the stats we mentioned:- EU barometer survey: https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2953 - State of financial education in the EU: https://www.bruegel.org/policy-brief/state-financial-knowledge-european-unionAnd, if you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or connect with me on twitter @simon_vanhoeve)!________________*Please note that the BRUBBLE podcast is solely a personal project that contains only personal views and is not related to any entities or organizations
We know that the Russian aggression in Ukraine poses an existential threat not only to Europe, but also European values. Thus, Europe remains committed to Ukraine’s defence – a commitment that goes beyond just rhetoric. And in doing so, we’ve seen in recent months real questions being asked about the state and strength of Europe’s defense industrial base – resulting in the EC recently publishing the European defence industrial strategy in early March 2024. So, what does this strategy mean for Europe? What do we think of its ideas? What implications will it have for our support for Ukraine? And how will this further Europe’s ambitions of Economic Security?Joining me to dive into this topic is one returning voice for this podcast – Gareth – and one new voice, Lucia.________________And, if you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or connect with me on twitter @simon_vanhoeve)!________________*Please note that the BRUBBLE podcast is solely a personal project that contains only personal views and is not related to any entities or organizations
As we all know, Europe today is in the midst of a wave of elections – including not only key domestic races, but also the European parliamentary elections. And one of the key themes that we’re seeing advocates lobby this year is that we have a real chance to make great strides on gender balance and representation, especially as currently only 41% of MEPs are women. And we also have the real possibility this year to see all four major institutions being led by women. But this does not mean that women are not facing unique challenges in our continued journey for equal representation… So, in today’s episode of the BRUBBLE podcast, we’re going to dive into what issues women candidates are uniquely facing in the 2024 elections – and also what we can do to support their journey. Joining me to cast their votes here today are Jéromine and Veronica from the European Women’s Lobby!________________If you want to learn a bit more about the European Women's Lobby, their advocacy, and their work, please see a few of the resources listed below!- Taking Stock of Women’s Representation in Politics across Europe Report: https://womenlobby.org/Representation2023- HerNetHerRights resource pack:https://www.womenlobby.org/Read-and-share-HerNetHerRights-Resource-Pack-Report- EWL Pledge for the elections https://www.womenlobby.org/Pledge2024?lang=en - EWL Manifesto for the elections https://www.womenlobby.org/Manifesto2024?lang=en- EWL Lobbying kit https://www.womenlobby.org/EWL-Manifesto-for-the-EU-Elections-2024-Lobbying-Kit?lang=enAnd, if you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or connect with me on twitter @simon_vanhoeve)!________________*Please note that the BRUBBLE podcast is solely a personal project that contains only personal views and is not related to any entities or organizations
Happy April Fool's! For ages, people have reported seeing animals, figures, and beasts which... really shouldn't exist. Of course, our American neighbours have a their fair share of tall tales about "cryptids". But us Europeans also partake in this!So, join Dan and Simon as we take a critical and historical look at 32 of Europe's most infamous cryptids and mythical creatures, ranging from the Loch Ness Monster to La bête du Gévaudan, and Fairies to Nixies in this two-hour long April Fool's Special!________________Watch the podcast and our beautiful faces on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0ntRWIHxiZw________________And, if you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or connect with me on twitter @simon_vanhoeve)!________________*Please note that the BRUBBLE podcast is solely a personal project that contains only personal views and is not related to any entities or organizations
I’m going to wager that when I talk to my grandchildren, the biggest thing that has changed over our lives has been technology. After all, in my lifetime, we went from fax machines and dial-up internet to smartphones and artificial intelligence. For us who are interested in this transformation, an especially important topic to follow has been how governments have been adapting to the digital transformation and technology. And adapt they have – especially at this moment in time, we’re seeing most of our governments embrace these technologies full heartedly. So, in today’s episode of the BRUBBLE podcast, I want to explore a bit not only how governments are adapting to today’s digital era, but also what the issues are that they’re facing and how they’re tackling them. And joining me to do just that is Luke, who authors a weekly newsletter called interweave.gov, exploring just this!________________Subscribe to the Interweave.gov newsletter: https://interweavegov.substack.com/!And, if you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or connect with me on twitter @simon_vanhoeve)!________________*Please note that the BRUBBLE podcast is solely a personal project that contains only personal views and is not related to any entities or organizations
As the European Elections draw closer, we’re hearing a lot about the issues that are impacting the average European. But the average European is 44 years old... So, what are the issues that matter for young Europeans? How have these issues changed in the past year, and across geographies? And most importantly, what can we, as young Europeans do, to achieve progress on these issues?Joining Simon today to dive into these issues are Fabiana and Andreea from the European Youth Forum. A few months ago, they launched the 2023 Youth Progress Index, a tool that collected data and insights from across the world to score each country on a variety of metrics relevant to young people. ________________Check out the 2023 Youth Progress Index here: https://www.youthforum.org/topics/youth-progress-index, or at https://youthprogressindex.org/.And, if you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or connect with me on twitter @simon_vanhoeve)!________________*Please note that the BRUBBLE podcast is solely a personal project that contains only personal views and is not related to any entities or organizations
One day, I’d like to be a homeowner – but as I see housing prices, this dream seems further and further away every day. As many are noting, Europe is currently in a housing crisis, facing both issues of housing shortages and affordability. And these issues often compound to disproportionately impact the least well off in our societies.So, what really is the European housing crisis? What’s causing it? How is it impacting Europeans? And – most importantly – how do we solve this issue across all levels of governance?Joining me today to open the intellectual door on this issue is Anna from Eurocities, who’ll break down the crisis and the roles we can all play in addressing it!________________And, if you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or connect with me on twitter @simon_vanhoeve)!________________Please note that the BRUBBLE podcast is solely a personal project that contains only personal views and is not related to any entities or organizations
It's a new year - and a new episode of ranking random political-ish stuff on this episode of the BRUBBLE podcast!Have you ever looked at the alphabet-soup of international organizations and wondered which one of them have the best logos? While, we did - and we set out to find the answer. Today, watch us dissect 32 of the most iconic international institution logos and see who wins in a march-madness style bracket!________________Watch the podcast and our beautiful faces on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Tr9fFGc6IZY________________And, if you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or connect with me on twitter @simon_vanhoeve)!________________*Please note that the BRUBBLE podcast is solely a personal project that contains only personal views and is not related to any entities or organizations
According to EC President von der Leyen, EU Africa relations are a key focus for our union. Thus, it was quite concerning to see, during the late summer/early autumn of 2023, a new wave of undemocratic coups sweeping across Africa, particularly targeting Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Gabon. Thus, a few months now removed from these coups, it might be an apt point to look back and reflect a bit on the EU-Africa relationship. So, how has the EU-Africa relationship changed over the past few years? What are the perspectives on both sides? And how is this relationship continuing to change, especially highlighted by these recent coups?Joining me to provide some expertise on these big topics are Kawsar and Ricardo!________________Feel free to check out....Ricardo's recent contributions on a piece examining an EU strategy for coups: https://europeandemocracyhub.epd.eu/crafting-an-eu-strategy-for-coups/Kawsar's recent writings for the ECDPM on Niger's coup: https://ecdpm.org/work/nigers-coup-sahels-jihadist-threat-complex-path-ahead-euKawsar talking on a different podcast, Mind the Gap, on gender expertise in international cooperation: https://ecdpm.org/work/episode-1-are-we-critical-enough-gender-expertiseAnd, if you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or connect with me on twitter @simon_vanhoeve)!________________*Please note that the BRUBBLE podcast is solely a personal project that contains only personal views and is not related to any entities or organizations
It’s been a busy year for European politics: wars have been raging, new legislation has been passing, and elections have been voted. But if we were to gather all the top stories of the past year and make a top 10, what would it look like? Well, Joao, Julien, Niko, and I decided to do just that. Join us as we go over the top stories of the year and debate our way into our collective top 10!And don't forget to check us out on YouTube to see the video recording!______________Follow us on Twitter:Nikos: twitter.com/NikTheosJulien: twitter.com/JulienHoezSimon: twitter.com/simon_vanhoeve________________If you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or contact me twitter (@simon_vanhoeve)!
Welcome back to another episode of the BRUBBLE podcast! We're back with our favorite, light-hearted political-ish series: RANKING, where we determine what the best really is.Simon and Dan team back up to take a big swing at finding out, once and for all, what the best European Landmark is. To do that, we've taken 32 iconic landmarks and put them in a march-madness style bracket.Listen or watch to see what we think makes a good national landmark!________________And, if you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or connect with me on twitter @simon_vanhoeve)!________________*Please note that the BRUBBLE podcast is solely a personal project that contains only personal views and is not related to any entities or organizations
For many of us here in Brussels, cycling is just a way to get to work – but to others, it’s a whole line of work! Over the past years, we’ve seen both sustainability and urban planning initiatives drive quite a few efforts to bring cycling to more people in the European Union, including last month’s European Declaration on Cycling proposal by the European Commission. This leaves us to ask: why is cycling such a focus of policy and what’s the vision? What are the challenges and opportunities? And finally, how can we make a difference? So to shed some insight on all this, Mike from the European Cyclists’ Federation will be biking in to join Simon to give some insight into the momentum pedalling various exciting policies in the cycling world. ________________Feel free to check out the work the ECF does on:- https://ecf.com/donate - https://ecf.com/- https://twitter.com/EuCyclistsFed- https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-cyclists'-federation/- And the ECF will be launching their COP28 campaigns very soon, so keep your eyes open for that!And, if you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or connect with me on twitter @simon_vanhoeve)!________________*Please note that the BRUBBLE podcast is solely a personal project that contains only personal views and is not related to any entities or organizations
Welcome back to another episode of the BRUBBLE podcast! We're back with our favorite, light-hearted political-ish series: RANKING, where we determine what the best really is. Simon and Dan team back up to take a big swing at finding out, once and for all, what the best European animal is. To do that, we've taken 32 iconic (and some not-so-iconic) national animals and put them in a march-madness style bracket. Listen or watch to see what we think makes a good national animal!________________And, if you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or connect with me on twitter @simon_vanhoeve)!________________*Please note that the BRUBBLE podcast is solely a personal project that contains only personal views and is not related to any entities or organizations
Europe is seemingly in the age of crises: during the past few years, we’ve weathered COVID-19 – but we’re still dealing with the war in Ukraine, the climate crisis, the energy crisis, increasing tensions with China, inflation and housing; the list goes on, with each crisis having their own harsh implications on the European economy. Recognising this trend, the European Commission published in June the “European Economic Security Strategy”. So, what is this strategy? How does it help Europe weather the winds of today and prepare for the storms of tomorrow? Joining me to provide some insight into this strategy and what might lie on the horizon is Gareth.________________Feel free to connect with Gareth at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gareth-heywood-9a2067b2/And, if you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or connect with me on twitter @simon_vanhoeve)!________________*Please note that the BRUBBLE podcast is solely a personal project that contains only personal views and is not related to any entities or organizations
Welcome back to another episode of the BRUBBLE podcast! We're back with a new potential series: RANKING, where we determine what the best really is. Simon and Dan are starting today by looking at the top EU flag. What makes a good flag? What makes some stand out? Which flag is really best?________________And, if you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or connect with me on twitter @simon_vanhoeve)!________________*Please note that the BRUBBLE podcast is solely a personal project that contains only personal views and is not related to any entities or organizations
Golden Passports present an interesting dilemma for the European Union, threading an interesting dilemma between diverse themes such as small states rights, migration, and rule of law. So, what are Golden Passports? And why are they problematic?
Joining me today on the BRUBBLE podcast is Nils, who’s a PhD student focusing on this subject matter.
________________ Feel free to connect with Nils at https://www.linkedin.com/in/nils-seidel/.
And, if you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or connect with me on twitter @simon_vanhoeve)! ________________ *Please note that the BRUBBLE podcast is solely a personal project that contains only personal views and is not related to any entities or organizations
This week, the European Commission published their strategy on “Virtual Worlds and Web 4.0.” But to as someone who isn’t an expert in this area, we thought: so what? Is the so-called “Metaverse” even relevant anymore?
So to shed a bit of light on “web 4.0”, “virtual worlds” and the “Metaverse”, we’re joined today by Alexandra, Gianluigi, and Patrick, who are all specialized in metaverse policy here in Brussels. Join us to find out what’s up with virtual worlds, why it might (or might not) matter, some of the most exciting developments, and how it impacts all of us Europeans. ________________ Please check out the other work of our guests: Metaverse.EU: https://www.metaversepolicy.eu/
Connect with us on LinkedIn....
Alexandra: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-shoichet/ Gigi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gianluigi-vona-gigi-a3611513b/ Patrick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-grady-ab2b16133/ Simon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-van-hoeve/
And, if you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or connect with me on twitter @simon_vanhoeve)! ________________ *Please note that the BRUBBLE podcast is solely a personal project that contains only personal views and is not related to any entities or organizations
Every year, the GLOBSEC think tank in Bratislava runs its annual Bratislava forum where pressing global issues, with a focus on Eastern Europe, as discussed among some of the top world leaders. This year was no exception, featuring remarks from leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, discussing Ukraine, Europe, transatlantic, China, Artificial Intelligence, and more.
And this year, I had the honour to attend the Bratislava forum as part of the GLOBSEC Young Leader Forum (GYLF), alongside others including Marija, Marius, Bart, and Giuseppe. So, what did we learn? What are our takeaways?
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If you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or connect with me on twitter @simon_vanhoeve)! ________________ *Please note that the BRUBBLE podcast is solely a personal project that contains only personal views and is not related to any entities or organizations
In Brussels, we all have a bad habit to focus on the biggest, highest levels of governance. But other units of governance also play an important role in driving policy innovation across all levels of governance, including the institutions we know and love here. And one of those levels that is arguably most interesting is cities. How are cities evolving their role in today’s changing world? How are they approaching the big issues of today? And what lessons can we in Brussels learn from the cities we’re surrounded by and living in?Joining me today to dive into this topic is Pietro, who specializes in city governance at Eurocities! ________________If you're curious about learning about the priorities and challenges of cities and the role they play in EU and global governance, join Pietro and Eurocities at the Brussels Urban Summit, from 12-15 June!https://eurocities.eu/latest/cities-as-global-players-the-brussels-urban-summit/And, if you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or connect with me on twitter @simon_vanhoeve)!________________*Please note that the BRUBBLE podcast is solely a personal project that contains only personal views and is not related to any entities or organizations
Last month, French President Emmanuel Macron visited China, where he was warmly received. But - was this visit successful? What were Macron's goals? What does this mean about the France-China, and the larger EU-China relationship? And finally, where does strategic autonomy fit in?Joining me to provide his insights is Alain.________________Alain's most recent piece: https://thediplomat.com/2023/05/is-france-backing-chinas-currency-against-the-us-dollar/Feel free to check out more of Alain and his work:https://europeanstudiesreview.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/esr-14-jan-2023.pdfhttps://thediplomat.com/2022/12/olaf-scholzs-china-gamble/https://thenewglobalorder.com/world-news/analysis-eu-energy-diversification-a-time-for-new-partnerships-the-case-of-the-kurdish-region-of-iraq/And, if you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or connect with me on twitter @simon_vanhoeve)!________________*Please note that the BRUBBLE podcast is solely a personal project that contains only personal views and is not related to any entities or organizations
The BRUBBLE podcast is back after a brief hiatus to look back at Spring 2023, and determine what the top stories of this season were. In this podcast, Simon is joined by Joao, Julien, and Nikoloas as we explore topics including EU-China relations, strategic autonomy, the Critical Raw Materials act, and the Turkish elections. Let us know what you thought the biggest story of 2023 was!________________Follow us on Twitter:Nikos: twitter.com/NikTheosJulien: twitter.com/JulienHoezSimon: twitter.com/simon_vanhoeve________________If you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or contact me twitter (@simon_vanhoeve)!
Emotions play a bigger role in politics than one might think - disregarding how and where you work. Emotions can also be used, abused and instrumentalized to influence others, shape decision making processes or provoke reactions.- How do emotions in politics work?- Why do emotions matter in European politics?- How can we learn to navigate through emotional waters?Joining Simon to share some insights and ideas on the role of emotions is Vandi (Patrick).Vandi (Patrick) is an Independent Coach for Emotional Transformation and Resilience, with a focus on the role of emotions in politics and cross-cultural environments.________________Learn more about Vandi’s work and offers! Check out his website https://vandi-coaching.com/. Also, connect with him via LinkedIn(Vandi Coaching) and Instagram(vandi.coaching)or send him a direct message viaemotions@vandi-coaching.com.And, if you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or connect with me on twitter @simon_vanhoeve)!________________*Please note that the BRUBBLE podcast is solely a personal project that contains only personal views and is not related to any entities or organizations
In the past years, countries like Canada, Germany, and France have all adopted feminist elements into their foreign policy approaches. So, on International Women’s day, we’re gathering to discuss a bit about what a feminist foreign policy is: who’s doing it, who’s doing it well, and how it can be improved. Joining Simon to shed some light on this approach is Sofiia. Sofiia Shevchuk is an Independent Consultant, and also founder of VONA, an educational and consultancy platform focusing on climate, gender, and security. ________________Learn more about Sofiia’s work and check out VONA at https://www.vona.international/. Also, connect with Sofiia on Twitter and LinkedIN (@sophie_shevchuk). And, if you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or connect with me on twitter (@simon_vanhoeve)!________________Please note that the BRUBBLE podcast is solely a personal project that contains only personal views and is not related to any entities or organizations
Energy was a top three issue in 2023 for Europe. But, by the end of the year, we were all sitting nice and warm. Did we really "solve" the 2022 energy crisis? And, more importantly, how will the Energy issue evolve over 2023?Joining Simon today to discuss these issues is Conall and Giovanni, who work at Bruegel on energy issues. ________________If you want to check out more of Giovanni and Conall's work, check them out on Twitter:https://twitter.com/GSgaravattihttps://twitter.com/c_heussaffAnd, if you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or connect with me on twitter (@simon_vanhoeve)!________________Please note that the BRUBBLE podcast is solely a personal project that contains only personal views and is not related to any entities or organizations
As the year draws to its close, what have been the biggest, most important stories of the past year? On this year-end episode of the BRUBBLE podcast, we come together, debate, and create a collective list of the biggest headlines of 2022.Joining Simon to dissect all this are Joao, Nikos and Julien! Let us know what you think!________________Follow us on Twitter:Nikos: twitter.com/NikTheosJulien: twitter.com/JulienHoezSimon: twitter.com/simon_vanhoeve________________If you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or contact me twitter (@simon_vanhoeve)!
Space has been a domain that's been getting more and more heated up in the past few years. But this time around, the focus is not on the exploration: but the connectivity elements instead. So, how will space transform our lives? Where is the EU's role in space? And, has the 'space race' returned - or did it never really leave to begin with?Joining me on this out-of-this world episode is Lea!________________Feel free to follow Lea on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeaAPavlovicOr, connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-pavlovic/If you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or connect with me on twitter (@simon_vanhoeve)!________________Please note that the BRUBBLE podcast is solely a personal project that contains only personal views and is not related to any entities or organizations
As the year draws to its close, what have been the biggest, most important stories of the past year? On this year-end episode of the BRUBBLE podcast, we come together, debate, and create a collective list of the biggest headlines of 2022. Joining Simon to dissect all this are Joao, Nikos and Julien! Let us know what you think!Also, do you want to see our faces? This podcast is also available on YouTube in video format! www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XJl6HIvNJY________________Timestamps:________________Follow us on Twitter:Nikos: twitter.com/NikTheosJulien: twitter.com/JulienHoezSimon: twitter.com/simon_vanhoeve________________If you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or contact me twitter (@simon_vanhoeve)!
A few weeks ago, the largest annual gathering of climate experts and voices wrapped up in Egypt. While many climate and sustainability topics were discussed, are we happy with the results?Joining Simon today is Salome - who is fresh back from COP27! Join us as we talk about the Loss and Damages fund, the 1.5 degree targets, food security - and give a final assessment of how successful this conference really was.________________If you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or connect with me on twitter (@simon_vanhoeve)!________________Please note that the BRUBBLE podcast is solely a personal project that contains only personal views and is not related to any entities or organizations
Blockchain is one of the biggest buzzwords that has ever existed - but behind this buzz is a real technology that promises to revolutionize much of our world.
So what can Blockchain do? What industries is it most poised to shake up? How does it relate to Crypto? And, perhaps most importantly from our EU Brussels Bubble perspective, where does regulation fit in?
Joining me today to share some insights and knowledge on this topic is Tommaso from Blockchain for Europe. ________________ Be sure to give Tommaso a follow: https://twitter.com/tommasoastazi Also, check out Blockchain For Europe for more information on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BlockchainforEU And their website: https://www.blockchain4europe.eu/ ________________ If you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or connect with me on twitter (@simon_vanhoeve)! ________________ Please note that the BRUBBLE podcast is solely a personal project that contains only personal views and is not related to any entities or organizations
EU Enlargement is a topic that has been thrust back into the EU discourse, following the Russian War of Agression in Ukraine. After all, we now have two new candidate states: Ukraine and Moldova.
But what does EU enlargement actually mean and entail? And what do we think of the Ukraine case study? Will we soon be 28 strong again?
Join Indre and Simon as we dissect this topic! ________________ Be sure to give Indre a follow @Indre_Kri ________________ If you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or connect with me on twitter (@simon_vanhoeve)! ________________ Please note that the BRUBBLE podcast is solely a personal project that contains only personal views and is not related to any entities or organizations
We're on the eve of the U.S. Midterms. But what is really happening on the 8th? What can we expect? What trends can we see emerging that will influence politics both in and out of the U.S.? And, perhaps most importantly for us sitting here in the Brussels Bubble, can this impact the EU-US relationship?
Joining me today to help unpack this election is Paul Verhagen. ________________ Check out more of Paul's work and election analysis on...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PJverhagen Website: https://www.pauljverhagen.com/us-politics ________________ If you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or connect with me on twitter (@simon_vanhoeve)!
Another month... and another "Month in Review"! October saw a lot of EU news and headlines - but what do they really mean?
How relevant are the Macron-Scholz tensions? Is the EU really moving forward on Energy Security? Was Josep Borrel in the right with his controversial speech? And, how important will the European Political Community really be?
Joining Simon to dissect all this are Joao, Nikos and Julien! Let us know what you think!
Also, do you want to see our faces? This podcast is also available on YouTube in video format! www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XJl6HIvNJY ________________ Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro 02:45 - Top Issues of the Month? 06:05 - Ukraine 17:25 - Energy Security 29:35 - Macron-Scholz Tensions 39:18 - Josep Borrel's Comments 47:13 - the UK and Liz Truss 54:55 - the European Political Community ________________ Follow us on Twitter:
Nikos: twitter.com/NikTheos Julien: twitter.com/JulienHoez Simon: twitter.com/simon_vanhoeve
________________ If you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or contact me twitter (@simon_vanhoeve)!
Artificial Intelligence has always been a big buzz word in technology. But, in the past decade, AI has really entered our everyday lives like never before. And with this newfound significance, there are new risks. Thus, the European Commission has proposed the "Artificial Intelligence Act" - which now sits in a key part of the legislative process.
So, what is AI? Why does it need to be regulated? And, most importantly, what does the AI Act do?
Joining me to dissect this issue if Patrick, an AI Policy Analyst at the Centre for Data Innovation.
________________ Connect with Patrick on twitter: https://twitter.com/patrickgrady_
And, if you have any larger questions, connect with Patrick at pgrady@datainnovation.org ________________ If you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or contact me twitter (@simon_vanhoeve)!
As Ireland nears their 50th year of EU membership, it's time to take a look not only at how the EU has changed Ireland, but also what Irish citizens think of the EU!
Today, Ciarán O' Driscoll from the European Movement Ireland joins Simon to break down what impacts the EU has had on Ireland. In addition, he shares some results and insigts from EMIreland's recent "Ireland and the EU Poll", which explore Irish sentiments towards EU issues.
________________ To read the "Ireland and the EU Poll", check out the European Movement Ireland: https://www.europeanmovement.ie/programmes/ireland-and-the-eu-poll/
Connect with Ciarán on twitter: https://twitter.com/bearaboi
And follow the European Movement Ireland for more Irish and the EU news! https://twitter.com/emireland
________________ If you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or contact me twitter (@simon_vanhoeve)!
Agriculture is a policy issue that impacts us all - especially given recent shocks, such as the Russian war in Ukraine, the summer 2022 drought, and the lasting impacts of COVID.
So, what are the agriculture issues impacting us today? Should we really be worried about food security in the months to come?
Joining me today to dissect this topic is Natasha, a food and agriculture journalist working with Euractiv! ________________ Don't forget to follow Natasha and her work at Euractiv for cutting-edge agriculture coverage!
Twitter - https://twitter.com/NatashaFoote Euractiv - https://www.euractiv.com/authors/natasha-foote/
And also follow Natasha's Agrifood podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/7GmhyETptjgcRDFRCBzkx9?si=Jn7LErdFSHOqj2bAgwUOBg ________________ If you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or contact me twitter (@simon_vanhoeve)!
What were the big takeaways for EU Policy from September 2022?
In Part 2 of our 2 part "September in Review" special, we discuss some of the key themes in Europe: the Italian Elections, the Rule of Law threats, and Europe's larger role in the world.
What does Meloni's Election mean for Italy in Europe, and the larger right-wing movement? Is Europe taking the right approach in their stance on Rule of Law violations? And what about Europe's larger ambitions to become a "Geopolitical Actor"?
Joining Simon on this episode are 3 guests: Joao, Nikos and Julien. Together, we dissect this month's headlines!
Also, do you want to see our faces? This podcast is also available on YouTube in video format! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XJl6HIvNJY
________________ Follow us on Twitter:
Nikos: twitter.com/NikTheos Julien: twitter.com/JulienHoez Simon: twitter.com/simon_vanhoeve
________________ If you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or contact me twitter (@simon_vanhoeve)!
What were the big takeaways for EU Policy from September 2022?
In Part 1 of our 2 part "September in Review" special, we discuss two of the top headlines: Ukraine and Energy security. What do Russia's recent threats (and battlefield struggles) mean for the future of this conflict? Where can EU policy do more? How will this impact our energy security in days to come?
Joining Simon on this episode are 3 guests: Joao, Nikos and Julien. Together, we dissect this month's headlines!
Also, do you want to see our faces? This podcast is also available on YouTube in video format! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XJl6HIvNJY
________________ Follow us on Twitter:
Nikos: https://twitter.com/NikTheos Julien: https://twitter.com/JulienHoez Simon: https://twitter.com/simon_vanhoeve
________________ If you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or contact me twitter (@simon_vanhoeve)!
The state of the union speech by European Commission President von der Leyen is one of the most anticipated political events in the Brussels Bubble. This year made for an especially interesting speech, touching on themes such as Ukraine, energy security, the economy, and democracy.
But - did von der Leyen stick the landing? What did the state of the union speech really say? Julien joins us today to explore these issues and much more! ________________ Don't forget to follow Julien and the French Dispatch for more up-to-date EU news and analysis! Twitter - @JulienHoez and @FrenchDispatch Newsletter - https://julienhoez.substack.com/ ________________ If you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com or contact me twitter (@simon_vanhoeve)!
On September 25th, Italians go to the polls (again) to elect their new Prime Minister. This time around, their election is dominated by issues of energy, conflict, and economy - all making for a tantalizing political environment, where we've seen the rise of new parties, like Georgia Meloni's Fratelli d'Itali.
But... what do we make of this? What will the impacts be? Today, Laura joins Simon to give some insights on this year's Italian Election. ________________ Based in Brussels, Laura works for a citizen engagement-focused NGO called Democratic Society. On the side, she writes about Italian politics for the international audience.
Don't forget to check out Laura's newsletter on the Italian Elections: https://politalia.substack.com/ ________________ If you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com!
Recently, the European Youth Forum started a petition to ban all unpaid internships in the EU. So, why are unpaid internships harmful? How does this relate to larger issues of youth rights? And what can you do to help?
Maria and Francesco from the European Youth Forum join Simon today to discuss these questions and more!
________________ To learn more about the petition to ban unpaid internships, check out the European Youth Forum: https://www.youthforum.org/.
Don't forget to check out their petition to ban unpaid internships: https://www.change.org/p/ban-unpaid-internships?source_location=search_index&algorithm=promoted&original_footer_petition_id=&grid_position=2&pt=AVBldGl0aW9uAHTiAgIAAAAAYrm5dbMtaX5kYzZkNWRlMA%3D%3D.
________________ If you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com!
A few weeks ago, Boris Johnson announced he would be stepping down as the UK Prime Minister. Given the ever-present Brexit fallout and the shifting UK role in the world, what does this say about the UK?
Today, Anna and Ben join Simon to discuss the UK 'state-of-play'. Tune in to find out what to expect of the Johnson resignation, and the UK in months to come!
Please note that this podcast only contains personal views and perspectives ________________ If you're interested in learning more about the UK Chamber of Commerce's efforts in Brussels to connect young people, check out their website: https://www.britcham.eu/
________________ If you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com!
Have you been following the Conference on the Future of Europe? Europe's largest and most ambitious participatory democracy project just wrapped up.
Saha and Ward of the Democratic Society join Simon today to talk about what this Conference looked like, their takeaways, and the impact this might have on democracy in Europe - both inside and outside the Brussels Bubble. ________________ If you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com!
The Brussels Bubble is home to all sorts of advocates. Today, Jonathan joins Simon to talk a bit about his work at Eurogroup For Animals, a leading Animal Advocacy group.
Join us to examine what are the major issues facing animal welfare, what this means for Europe, and what we can do.
Don't forget to check out the European Citizens’ Initiative “Fur Free Europe”! https://www.eurogroupforanimals.org/fur-free-europe ________________ If you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUBBLE podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com!
On May 18th, Finland officially applied to become part of NATO. Today on the BRUBBLE podcast, Aaro joins Simon to talk a bit about how this happened, what this means for Finland, and what this means for Europe.
________________ If you're in the Brussels area and would like to be on the BRUbble podcast, please contact Simon at brubblepodcast@gmail.com! No experience necessary!