Filling the Sink: Recent Episodes
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Little by little the sink fills up… Filling the Sink is a podcast in English on all things Catalan. Every week the Catalan News team explores a different aspect of Catalonia, from news and politics, to society and culture. Whether you live in Catalonia and need some of the current issues explained, or you’re simply curious about what makes this place tick. Either way, Filling the Sink has got you covered. Don’t worry if you don’t know much about this corner of land nestled between the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean. As they say in Catalonia, ”de mica en mica, s‘omple la pica” - little by little, the sink fills up.
Filling the Sink is a podcast from Catalan News.
Expanding career opportunities, helping children with their homework, building friendships and relationships, and feeling at home in Catalonia – these are just some of the reasons Catalan learners give for learning the language.
This episode of Filling the Sink explores what it's like to learn Catalan, and the challenges and opportunities facing the language today.
Lorcan Doherty is joined by Jordi Ballart from the CPNL (Consorci per a la Normalització Lingüística) and Catalan learner Grace Ferris to discuss the current state of the language, the growing demand for Catalan classes, and the transition from the classroom to real-life conversation.
Cillian Shields speaks with CPNL teacher Mafalda Palà and one of her students, Alejandro Merayo, who moved to Barcelona from Argentina and has embraced learning Catalan as part of settling into life in Catalonia.
We also drop in on a Speak Catalan meetup, organised by Eloi Rodrígues and Arnau Torner, where learners and native speakers gather in cafés and other venues to practise Catalan through conversation in a fun, informal setting.
100 years since the death of architect Antoni Gaudí, his vision, the Sagrada Família, is almost complete.
This episode marks several milestones: the centenary of Gaudí's death, the Pope's inauguration of the Sagrada Família's Tower of Jesus, and the 250th episode of Filling the Sink!
Lorcan Doherty explores the life and work of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí and his masterpiece, the Sagrada Família, in conversation with Marta Otzet, Director of Culture and Social and Educational Outreach at the basilica.
Cillian Shields takes viewers on a tour of Gaudí's Barcelona, exploring his dragon-inspired designs, fascination with the natural world, and the tragic accident that ended the architect's extraordinary creative life.
Anna Glass looks at the relationship between Gaudí and Eusebi Güell, the industrialist whose financial support helped bring many of the architect's ambitious ideas to life.
Solar, wind, fossil fuels, nuclear. Energy makes the world go round. But, on an ever-warming planet, the question of where it comes from is increasingly urgent.
As well as the green energy transition and the climate crisis, geopolitical tensions and energy sovereignty are also shaping the debate.
On this episode of Filling the Sink we're looking at the state of play in Catalonia, just over a year on from the blackout that hit the Iberian Peninsula.
Catalonia is still heavily reliant on nuclear power and lags behind Spain and the EU on renewable energy, with only around 20% of electricity coming from green sources.
From a low base, solar capacity is now expanding and energy communities are growing rapidly in Catalonia.
Batteries are emerging as a key solution to balancing supply and demand, although progress remains limited.
Lorcan Doherty is joined by Cillian Shields with additional reporting from Telma Altes Safont.
Bona diada de Sant Jordi a tothom! April 23 is Saint George's Day, the patron saint of Catalonia, and it is a magical day here. Full of love, romance, roses, dragons, and books. It's like Valentine's Day but better.
Today, we'll be exploring the world of Catalan literature, together with a special guest, Izaskun Arretxe, Director of the Literature Department at the Ramon Llull Institute, who we were delighted to welcome in studio to discuss how Catalan literature is spreading across the globe. In this episode, we pose the question: Sant Jordi is obviously a huge literary celebration within Catalonia, but does it help give Catalan literature visibility outside Catalonia?
And with major international success in recent years with Eva Baltasar's Boulder, which was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize through its English translation by Julia Sanches, as well as Irene Solà's When I Sing, Mountains Dance (Canto jo i la muntanya balla), we examine if international readers are more likely to discover Catalan literature through the classics or through these more contemporary voices.
Plus, we hear from Oriol Escudé who clears up some common myths and misconceptions about the literary day, and Cillian Shields visits Backstory and Come In, two English-language bookshops in Barcelona, to learn about how they’re fostering community among international readers in Catalonia.
At a time when immigration is a political flashpoint across much of Europe and beyond, Spain appears to be taking a different approach.
Around half a million undocumented migrants, including up to 150,000 in Catalonia, are set to benefit from the extraordinary regularisation announced by the Spanish government.
But why now? And how will it actually work?
Blanca Garcés, senior researcher at the Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB), explains how the plan is expected to benefit domestic care and hospitality workers in Catalonia and enable irregular residents to obtain permits without a job offer.
Alicia Andersson reports on informal work in Catalonia, featuring insights from Oscar Riu (UGT), Fany Raquel Galesas Sánchez (CCOO), and Nuria Soto (Riders X Derechos) on the challenges faced by undocumented workers.
Cillian Shields joins Lorcan Doherty to give a breakdown of who is eligible for regularisation, how the process works, and what sets Spain apart on the European stage when it comes to migration policy.
On January 20, a fatal derailment in Catalonia, just two days after the high-speed rail disaster in Andalusia, led to unprecedented levels of disruption, with the entire Rodalies network suspended several times due to safety concerns.
But the problems with Catalonia's rail network stretch much further back.
In this episode of Filling the Sink, Lorcan Doherty and Cillian Shields examine Catalonia's Rodalies commuter rail network: decades of underinvestment, the recent Gelida accident and subsequent strikes and shutdowns, and the planned transfer of management from Spanish to Catalan authorities.
Francisco Cárdenas, UGT union representative for Renfe workers in Catalonia, explains how years of neglect and insufficient maintenance have created a network that train drivers no longer feel safe operating.
Rail expert Joan Carles Salmerón, director of private research center Terminus, provides his diagnosis of the structural weaknesses in Catalonia's rail infrastructure, including a disproportionate focus on high-speed lines at the expense of local commuter services.
In this episode, we explore a problem that refuses to go away: the near-impossible task many immigrants in Spain face when trying to secure appointments for their NIE (foreign identity number) or TIE (foreign identity card).
Cybersecurity expert René Serral from UPC breaks down what is happening behind the scenes of the 'cita previa' appointment system – and what could be done to fix it.
Law professor Natalia Caicedo examines whether the Spanish government is meeting its legal obligations toward newcomers.
Honduran-born activist Carmen Juares describes how migrants are "treated as second-class citizens," calling the process of regularising legal status "a continuous obstacle course."
We also hear directly from Catalan News readers, many of whom got in touch to share their own experiences navigating the system.
With Lorcan Doherty and Oriol Escudé.
FC Barcelona are back home. After several false starts, Barça are once again playing their home fixtures at the iconic Spotify Camp Nou. After two and a half years away, fans are excited – and local businesses relieved – but the revamped stadium remains a work in progress.
The return to the Camp Nou marks the beginning of a new era for FC Barcelona. After a decade of financial woes, could it also prove to be the saving of the club?
Oriol Escudé and Cillian Shields join Lorcan Doherty to discuss why the overhaul was needed, the controversies surrounding the construction, and the matchday atmosphere at the newly redeveloped stadium.
We’ll hear from culers on the thrill of being back, local business owners on the boost to their trade, and a residents' group on concerns about disruption in the neighbourhood.
Get in touch with the podcast team: fillingthesink@acn.cat
Listen to more episodes of Filling the Sink or find out more here.
Cillian Shields joins Lorcan Doherty to look back at life in Catalonia under the Franco dictatorship, the transition to democracy that followed, and the challenges that remain today, including uncovering mass graves, ongoing legal battles, and a resurgent far right among young people.
Andrew Dowling, Reader in Contemporary Spanish History at Cardiff University, explains how repression was felt in Catalonia during the dictatorship, and how that evolved over the decades of the regime.
Catalan photographer Pilar Aymerich, who not only lived through the historic transition to democracy of the late 70s but actively documented it, reflects on that pivotal moment in history.
The episode concludes by looking at the challenges that remain today, including ongoing efforts to uncover mass graves, stalled legal cases seeking justice, and the resurgence of the far right among young people.
It's a familiar scene across Catalonia: someone sitting outside a café, enjoying a coffee and smoking a cigarette. But it could soon be consigned to the history books, if Spain pushes ahead with a new bill banning smoking and vaping on terraces.
On this episode of Filling the Sink, Gerard Escaich Folch joins Lorcan Doherty to talk about Spain's proposed smoking law.
Catalonia's Secretary of Public Health, Esteve Fernández, and the head of the Association Against Cancer in Barcelona, Dr Laureano Molins, explain why the law on smoking needs to be changed, and what measures they would like to see included in the final version.
Joaquim Boadas, the secretary general of both FECASARM (Catalan Federation of Hospitality, Restaurants, and Nightclubs) and Spain Nightlife, outlines the hospitality sector's concerns over one of the most talked-about aspects of the legislation – a smoking ban for cafe, bar and restaurant terraces.
Plus, we hit the streets of Barcelona to find out what smokers and non-smokers alike think of the proposed legislation.
'Tourist, go home!', 'Ban Airbnb', and even 'Stop brunch'. Some of the slogans you'll see graffitied around Barcelona, and on t-shirts and placards at the anti-tourism rallies that have made international headlines in recent years.
In our first video podcast, Filling the Sink looks at the latest strategy to make tourism work for the people who live here too: a shift toward so-called quality tourism.
Patricia Diez, professor at EAE Business School, and Eulogio Bordas, president of THR Innovative Tourism Consultants, share their insights on quality tourism – is it desirable, achievable, and how to make it work.
Carla Izcara, a researcher at Alba Sud, and José Mansilla, from UAB's Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology, offer a critical perspective on the promises and pitfalls of quality tourism.
Oriol Escudé joins host Lorcan Doherty to unpack the idea of quality tourism and what it means for Barcelona and Catalonia.
Street names offer a window into every town's history, culture, and identity. From the structured Eixample grid in Barcelona to the smallest village in the Pyrenees, street names in Catalonia honor important figures, historical events and places. In this week's podcast, we discover the stories behind some of Catalonia's more interesting street names, find out what locals think and explore who names the streets and why some names are more popular than others.
Journalists Oriol Escudé and Guifré Jordan join host Beth Cohen to look back through the history of urban toponyms and share a glossary of Catalan street vocabulary.
Miquel Parella, Head of Toponymy at the Catalan Institute of Cartography and Geology, explains how street nomenclature has evolved over time, influenced by politics, Catalan language normalization and events such as the banned 2017 independence referendum.
We also take to the streets of Barcelona to test people's knowledge of street names, hear about their personal favorites and discover what names they would choose if given the chance.
This week we have a double Catalan phrase, "Anar pel bon camí" versus "Anar pel pedregar." They have opposing meanings; the literal translation is "to go on the right path" or "to walk among stones" and the English equivalent would be "To be on the right track" versus "To be on the road to ruin."
Natural wine is a growing movement in Catalonia, rooted in both tradition and innovation. With diverse terroirs and a long winemaking history, regions such as Penedès, Alt Empordà, Conca de Barberà and Terra Alta & Priorat have become hubs for natural winemakers. This week on Filling the Sink we find out what natural wine is, who is making it and why Catalonia is gaining recognition on the global natural wine scene.
Producer Rafa Camps from La Natural describes the challenges of small-scale natural wine production, including climate change and spontaneous fermentation.
Experts Benji Sher and Ida Mogren from the natural wine education centre SucSuc explain the philosophy behind natural wine, rooted in ethics and sustainability.
We visit the natural wine restaurant Amateur in Barcelona to meet owner Marco Bolatti and chef Tomás Esmoris and discover the cuisine and aesthetic which accompany the Catalan natural wine boom and which appeal to younger, less traditional wine drinkers.
Plus reporter Cillian Shields joins host Beth Cohen to review some key natural wine terminology and discuss the up-and-coming natural wine bars in Barcelona.
This week, our Catalan phrase is “Bon vi fa bon cor” - “Good wine makes a good heart”. It’s a classic saying which expresses the belief that wine, enjoyed in moderation, brings joy and warmth to the soul.
Catalonia has become a popular location for contemporary international film and TV productions, thanks to its diverse landscapes, strong production incentives and experienced crews. This week on Filling the Sink we review the history of international filmmaking in Catalonia and discover some of the most iconic movies and series filmed on Catalan soil.
Montserrat Guiu from Barcelona Film Commission and Laia Boixader from Catalunya Film Commission explain what draws contemporary producers from around the world to shoot here and how the film industry is impacting the local economy.
We visit Parc Audiovisual de Catalunya, an audiovisual production complex in Terrassa which offers sound stages, backlots and diverse locations such as an old hospital, tunnels and a church. Managing director Cristina Brandner takes us on a backstage tour to see the set and props of some of the current productions shooting there.
Plus reporter Lorcan Doherty joins host Beth Cohen to discuss the upcoming Catalunya Media City plan, analyze Catalonia’s tax initiatives for audiovisual production and relive some of the best movie moments filmed locally.
This week, our Catalan phrase is“Llums, càmera, acció” which translates as “Lights, camera, action!” and is the classic cue used on film sets to signal the beginning of a take.
A year after it came into effect, the amnesty law related to Catalonia’s independence push has been upheld by the Spanish Constitutional Court. Whilst the pardon of over 300 activists and officials has eased tensions, the cases of many high-profile leaders are unresolved and its long-term impact remains unclear.
Head of Catalan News Gerard Escaich Folch joins host Beth Cohen to discuss this controversial piece of legislation, review its implementation and analyze the ongoing debate about its constitutionality.
Professor Josep Lluís Martí from the Faculty of Law at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona explains that, although the Spanish Constitutional Court has upheld the Amnesty Law, there are three key exceptions: the inclusion of those who opposed the Catalan independence process, the application only to acts between November 2011 and November 2023, and the obligation to hear all parties in accounting procedures. Specific cases which involve terrorism and misuse of public funds also remain unresolved.
This week, our Catalan phrase is “El més calent és a l'aigüera” which literally means “The hottest thing is in the sink” and is the equivalent to the English expression “It’s still up in the air”. It’s often used with frustration or impatience to describe a situation that is far from being concluded, despite appearances or expectations that it should be.
The Sixena murals are late 12th to early 13th-century Romanesque wall paintings from the Monastery of Santa María de Sixena in Aragon. They were moved to Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War for preservation and are currently on display at the National Art Museum of Catalonia in Barcelona. On this week’s podcast, we explore the ongoing debate over their place of exhibition, which highlights deeper regional and cultural tensions in Spain.
Reporter Cillian Shields visits the MNAC to learn more about the history, restoration and conservation of the frescoes. Art historian Albert Velasco explains the controversy over their location, in which Aragon claims rightful ownership and demands their immediate return to the Sixena monastery, whilst experts highlight the importance of a controlled environment for conservation and warn that moving them may cause irreparable damage due to their fragility.
Host Beth Cohen draws parallels with other relocated artworks and raises questions about the responsibility to protect cultural heritage regardless of political disputes.
This week, our Catalan phrase is “Compartir és viure” - “To share is to live”. A modern and commonly used phrase in Catalonia, it expresses the idea that sharing is an essential part of a meaningful life, fostering a sense of community and human connection.
Catalonia frequently faces forest fires, which threaten ecosystems, wildlife and communities. This situation has been aggravated in recent years by climate change, drought and human activity, and throughout the summer months fire risk is at its peak. On this week’s podcast we discover how firefighters and forest rangers use drones, AI and new technologies to prevent and control summer forest blazes.
We meet David Borrell, head of the Bombers de la Generalitat, who explains how the fire brigade uses advanced tools for real-time monitoring and predictive analysis.
Chief inspector Antoni Mur from the Agents Rurals explains the role of Catalonia’s forest rangers in maintaining natural areas in order to reduce fire risks.
Plus reporter Oriol Escudé joins host Beth Cohen to look back over the history of wildfires in Catalonia and discuss what this summer may bring.
This week, our Catalan phrase is “Qui juga amb foc, es crema” - “He who plays with fire, gets burned”. It’s a proverb that warns against taking risks or behaving recklessly.
Raised in Catalonia to international parents, new generation migrants are a growing demographic in Catalonia, however they often navigate dual identities, balancing their family’s cultural heritage with local traditions. This week on Filling the Sink we dedicate an episode to exploring the challenges faced by this significant collective.
Zenia Hellgren, Doctor of Sociology a Senior Researcher at Pompeu Fabra University, discusses what identity is and how young people with a migrant background may find it hard to achieve a true sense of belonging in any one place.
Reporter Gigi Giulia talks to secondary school teacher Mariona Jorba Solsona about the importance of education in breaking down language barriers and creating an inclusive environment which nurtures hybrid identities.
Plus, we meet two new generation Catalans to hear their stories, and host Beth Cohen analyzes Catalonia’s migration history and how it has shaped the current social reality.
This week, our Catalan phrase is “És tard i vol ploure” - “It’s late and it wants to rain”. It’s an expression that is used when time is running out or something is too late to fix. It can also be used as a way of saying goodbye or telling someone to hurry up.
Every summer, Catalonia hosts a wide range of music festivals, from large international events in Barcelona to smaller coastal concerts. On this week’s podcast, we offer a guide to what’s on and discuss Sonar+D, a technology festival at the forefront of musical innovation.
Head of Catalan News Gerard Escaich Folch visits Primavera Sound to pick up some festival vibes, meet fans from around the world and find out what’s so special about Catalonia’s biggest summer music event.
Reporter and festival fiend Cillian Shields sits down with host Beth Cohen to talk through the headline acts at festivals such as Sónar, Cruïlla and Vida, as well as highlighting the best of this summer’s concert program.
Plus we take a deep dive into Sónar+D and meet the festival’s director as well as some of the researchers, musicians and performers who are exhibiting their work. Albert Barqueduran, otherwise known as albert.data, discusses his new project Synapticon and explains how new neurotechnologies could signify an end to mental privacy.
This week, our Catalan phrase is “Fer ballar el cap” - “To make someone’s head dance”, which means to get on someone’s nerves or annoy them, rather like the English expression “To make someone’s head spin”.
This year, Catalonia and Japan are strengthening their ties with a yearlong celebration, including Catalan Week in Japan, taking place from May 27 to June 1 at the Universal Expo in Osaka. This week on Filling the Sink we explore the relationship between both territories and visit the Expo to find out how Catalonia is promoting its culture.
Head of Catalan News Gerard Escaich Folch joins host Beth Cohen to explore the concept of the Universal Exposition and its impact on the host cities, highlighting the monuments in Barcelona which are relics of the 1888 and 1929 Expos. We look back over the historical relationship between Catalonia and Japan, which dates back to the 16th century with a visit from Japanese Christian travelers Tensho Ken-oh Shisetsu dan to the Montserrat monastery.
Our ACN correspondents in Osaka bring us all the details of the Expo activities, from pa amb tomàquet workshops to wine tasting, virtual reality tourist visits, videos on the history of Barça, a lesson on how to paint like Miró, and interactive architecture exhibits.
We hear from Michelin-star chefs Carme Ruscadella and Joan Roca, who are ambassadors to the event, and catch up with Yoshiaki Matsumoto, leader of a Catalan rumba group in Japan. We also hear from some Japanese citizens celebrating Catalan culture in Osaka.
This week, our Catalan phrase is “Fer-ne cinc cèntims - “To make five cents of it,” which means to briefly resume something, keeping it short and sweet.
According to the UN, birth rates have been declining globally since 1963, and Spain has the second-lowest fertility rate in the EU. Economic instability, difficulty in accessing housing, an inability to reconcile work and family life, and a lack of support have been pinpointed as deterring factors.
We meet women from different backgrounds to hear their experiences of maternity and the challenges they have overcome. We also explore the emotional side, the importance of community and the loneliness that many mothers experience, and what is being done to address this in the form of community groups and associations.
From raising a child with disabilities to single mothers coping alone, diverse families overcoming stigma, international mothers searching for a community and grandparents who play a key role in childcare, there is no one way to raise a family. We discover the multiple realities of contemporary maternity and gain an insider’s perspective on one of life’s most universal roles.
Reporter Lea Beliaeva Bander joins host Beth Cohen to explore the legal framework for supporting mothers and discuss the realities of modern-day motherhood in Catalonia.
This week, our Catalan phrase is “Mare només n'hi ha una” - “There is only one mother”. It's a traditional expression emphasizing the irreplaceable role of a mother, however, it overlooks adoptive, LGBTQI+, and non-traditional families, where children may have more than one mother, or no mother at all.
This week the 69th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest takes place in Basel, Switzerland. To celebrate, we look back over the history of the competition and explore Catalonia’s involvement, from Catalan language entries to the stories of Catalan artists who’ve graced the Eurovision stage.
We interview Jordi Ramos, a journalist for the Catalan radio station, Rac1. He's an expert on Eurovision and the perfect person to explain, through Catalan eyes, what the song contest is all about.
Reporter Gigi Giulia catches up with Alfred García, the famous singer from El Prat de Llobregat who represented Spain in Eurovision in 2018, performing the duet Tu Canción with his then-girlfriend Amaia Romero. He reflects on his Eurovision experience and how it marked a turning point in his career.
Plus, reporter Lorcan Doherty analyzes Catalonia’s push to become a member of the European Broadcasting Association and compete independently, and host Beth Cohen explores the importance of Eurovision for Catalonia’s LGBTQI+ community.
This week, our Catalan phrase is “Cantar com els àngels" - “To sing like the angels”, a metaphor used to describe someone who sings exceptionally well, with a voice so beautiful and pure that it seems almost heavenly.
On May 8, 1945, the second world war came to end in Europe. 80 years on, we reflect on how Catalonia was affected by the conflict and highlight the remarkable story of Neus Català, an anti-fascist resistance fighter and holocaust survivor from Tarragona.
Reporters Lea Beliaeva Bander and Cillian Shields join host Beth Cohen to discuss the effects of WWII in Catalonia and discover the story of a Catalan woman who dedicated her life to fighting fascism.
We meet Ricard Ribera Llorens, president of the Fundació Neus Català, who recounts Neus Català’s journey from rural Catalonia to the concentration camps of Ravensbrück and Holleischen, to her later years dedicated to the historical memory of Nazi atrocities. Neus played a vital role in the anti-fascist struggle in the French resistance as a Republican exile, carrying messages, participating in the escape networks, providing food to guerrillas and giving the Nazi soldiers false information. Plus Dr. Alejandro Acosta, contemporary historian at the Universidad Carlos III in Madrid, analyzes the ongoing presence of fascist politics in contemporary society and the conditions which favor its’ expansion.
This week, our Catalan phrase is a quote from Neus Català herself: “L’única mort que em preocupa és la mort de la memòria” - “The only death which worries me is the death of memory.”
Pope Francis was known for his humility, compassion and emphasis on social justice. This week we’ll be dedicating an episode of Filling the Sink to the memory of this popular spiritual leader and exploring his relationship with Catalonia.
Catalan News travels to the Vatican to attend the Pope’s funeral and meet some of the 250,000 mourners who have flocked to Rome to pay their last respects, including many Catalan youngsters who attended the Jubilee of Teenagers.
We meet Míriam Díez Bosch, a journalist specializing in religion and founder director of the Blanquerna Observatory on Media, Religion and Culture in Barcelona, who analyzes the Pope’s relationship with Catalonia.
Members of the Catalan church share their stories and discuss the decline in assistance and in religious marriages in recent decades. And reporter Gerard Escaich Folch joins host Beth Cohen to discuss the current religious panorama in Catalonia, including rapid secularization and the diversification of religious beliefs due to immigration.
This week, our Catalan phrase is “Per l'amor de Déu!” - “For the love of God!”, which despite its reference to the divine is used in everyday conversation to express strong emotions.
On April 28, 2025, a massive blackout affected Spain, Portugal, Andorra, and parts of France, leaving over 50 million people without power for up to 12 hours. This week on Filling the Sink, we investigate the causes and find out how it affected people across Catalonia.
Catalan News journalists Gerard Escaich Folch, Lorcan Doherty and Cillian Shields join host Beth Cohen to relive some of the darkest moments of Monday’s blackout. The outage halted trains, disrupted work for many, and cut telecommunications and internet services. We took to the streets of Barcelona to meet some affected people and find out how businesses and city infrastructures coped.
At the time of publishing, the exact cause of the blackout has not yet been confirmed, however, the National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE) and the national police are still investigating. The main hypothesis is an operational failure of the Red Eléctrica power grid caused by instability in the system, possibly related to high reliance on renewable energy sources such as solar and wind as opposed to synchronous sources such as gas, nuclear, or hydroelectric energy. We analyze the government response and political fallout, as well as discuss how citizens should prepare for possible future events on this scale.
This week, our Catalan phrase is “Estar com un llum” - which translates as “to be like a light” and means to be unstable or even a bit crazy. It originates from the early days of electricity, when light bulbs used to flicker and fade rather than providing a constant glow.
Sant Jordi is a Catalan cultural celebration held on April 23. It’s Catalonia's Valentine’s Day and it served as the inspiration for World Book Day. Couples, friends, and families give each other gifts of roses and books, commemorating the legendary slaying of the dragon by Sant Jordi - Saint George, in English. In this week’s podcast, we delve into Catalan literature and analyze its translation into English.
Host Beth Cohen sits down with reporter Cillian Shields to discuss the origins of the Sant Jordi celebration and its evolution over time. Cillian meets Peter Bush and Laura McGloughlin, two of the most notable contemporary Catalan-to-English translators, who reflect on what it means to translate a novel and explain their approach to the task. Both review some of their most iconic translations, including the works of Josep Pla, Emili Teixidor, Toni Hill, and Bel Olid, while discussing current trends and emerging voices in Catalan literature. Cillian and Beth wrap up by sharing some of their favorite reads by Catalan authors and exchanging book recommendations for this year’s Sant Jordi.
This week, our Catalan phrase is “Un llibre és com un jardí que es porta a la butxaca,” a proverb of Arabic origin that translates as “A book is like a garden carried in your pocket.” Just like a garden, books are full of life and beautiful details - but small enough to keep with you wherever you go.
At Easter time, bakery windows across Catalonia are filled with the most spectacular chocolate sculptures. These “Mones de Pasqua”are traditionally given to children by their godparents on Easter Monday, a festive day known as "Dilluns de Pasqua" in Catalonia.
Originally simple sweet breads topped with hard-boiled eggs, modern versions have evolved into elaborate chocolate creations, often shaped like animals, cartoon characters, or famous landmarks. The tradition symbolizes the end of Lent and is a joyful family celebration.
To find out more about mones, reporters Gigi Giulia and Lorcan Doherty visit Natcha patisserie in Barcelona. Manager Marta Massagué explains the culinary history of mones and reveals this year’s Easter chocolate trends, including Spiderman, Goku and Barça-themed football mones. Host Beth Cohen explores the history of chocolate and analyzes the recent rise in cocoa prices. Plus, world chocolate master Lluc Crusellas gives us a tour of Eukarya, his workshop and chocolate brand based in Vic, and we indulge in a tasting session of some of the best Easter eggs in Catalonia.
This week our Catalan phrase is “Pensar en la mona de Pasqua”, which means to think about your Easter cake and is used to describe someone who's distracted, absent-minded, or daydreaming.
Urban farming is the practice of growing food in cities instead of in rural areas. In this week’s episode of Filling the Sink we investigate the legislation surrounding urban food production and find out how community gardening projects are benefitting residents in unexpected ways.
Reporter Gigi Giulia visits two of the leading urban farms in Barcelona, ‘The Rooftop Garden’ and ‘L'Hort del Mercat,’ to understand how these initiatives work and meet some of the people involved. Ferran Urgell, from the Municipal Institute for People with Disabilities in Barcelona, explains the benefits that urban gardening can bring to city dwellers and particularly those suffering from intellectual disabilities and mental health issues. And Robert Strauss, an American living in Barcelona, takes us on a tour of his own thriving rooftop garden, which creatively uses all available space.
Leaving the city behind, we head to ‘La Rural de Collserola,’ a cooperative located just outside Barcelona in the Collserola natural park, dedicated to sustainable agriculture, to discover the differences between rural and urban farming and how these two practices can complement each other. Finally, host Beth Cohen examines the environmental impact of urban agriculture and questions the contamination risks involved.
This week our Catalan phrase is “Qui té un hort, té un tresor,” which translates as “He who has a garden, has a treasure.” It is a positive expression for those who appreciate gardening and all the rewards it can bring.
The term "micropobles" refers to small villages in Catalonia with fewer than 1,000 inhabitants. There are more than 480 micropobles in the territory, representing nearly one-third of all Catalan municipalities, yet they are home to only 2.5% of Catalonia’s population, many of whom are already over 65 years old.
Gigi Giulia and Lorcan Doherty join host Beth Cohen to discuss the pros and cons of living in a micro village and analyze the socio-demographic profile of the residents. We meet Joan Solà, president of the Associació de Micropobles de Catalunya, who explains the importance of rural communities in preserving Catalan cultural heritage, language and traditions. Young architect Marta Solà explains her decision to return to her home town in an isolated area of Lleida to begin her professional life after studying in Barcelona. And we explore some of the government initiatives which are being implemented to protect remote villages from depopulation. Whatever challenges Catalonia’s micro villages may be facing, they continue to be unique places to reside for those who seek an alternative lifestyle far from the city.
This week our Catalan phrase is “Fotre el camp,” which is a rude expression commonly used to tell someone to go away or “get lost!” but can be translated as “go to the countryside.”
Depression is a leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. However the stigma surrounding depression often leads patients to suffer in silence, without adequate support from family, friends and healthcare professionals. On this week’s podcast we discuss what depression is, what the major causes are and how it can be treated.
Lea Beliaeva Bander meets some patients who are suffering with depression, to get an insider’s perspective on what it is like to live with the disease. We talk to psychologist Dr. Gemma Parramon Puig, president of the Catalan Society of Psychiatry and Mental Health of the Catalan Medical Sciences Academy and psychiatrist at Vall d’Hebron Hospital in Barcelona. She analyzes the biological, social and cultural factors which can influence depression and reveals why women are more likely to get diagnosed with depression than men. Plus founder and director of Therapy in Barcelona Leigh Matthews explains how mental health issues affect the international community and we discuss where to find professional support in Catalonia.
This week our Catalan phrase is “veure la llum al final del túnel,” to see the light at the end of the tunnel. For any of our listeners who are struggling with depression, or supporting someone who is, we encourage you to seek help.
Barcelona has a growing community of international residents, which for better or for worse is changing the face of the city. This week on Filling the Sink we find out who they are, why they chose this part of the world to start a new life and what impact they are having on the city.
Lorcan Doherty sits down with host Beth Cohen to discuss the proliferation of expats in Barcelona. We meet Brian Rosa, researcher and university professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, who has done specific research on the topic and who explores some of the legal aspects. Toni Coll, from the Poblenou residents’ association, explains the difficulties caused by the influx of highly educated international citizens, especially in terms of housing and the gentrification of certain areas of the city. And Marta Gràcia, CEO of the co-working franchise Cloudworks, outlines the benefits that the international community bring to Barcelona, particularly from a business perspective.
This week, our Catalan phrase is "Val més un veí a la porta que un parent a Mallorca,” which translates as “A neighbor at the door is worth more than a relative in Mallorca” and emphasizes the importance of local communities. For expats, having connections locally can be more helpful than having the support of relatives who are far away.
On March 14, 2020, Spain entered a state of alarm in the face of the coronavirus health crisis, placing the nation in lockdown and ordering the population to stay at home. Five years later, we look back on the pandemic and analyze the long term effects of Covid-19 in Catalonia, exploring the ongoing presence of the virus and talking to some of the patients and healthcare professionals involved.
We meet Carmen Cabezas, who was public health secretary during the pandemic and who led the vaccination campaign. Host Beth Cohen discusses the evolution of the virus over the past five years and finds out how Catalonia is preparing to deal with possible future health crises. And current health secretary Esteve Fernández analyses the lessons learned and explains the importance of cooperation in effectively managing epidemics.
For some patients, Covid-19 continues to take its toll. Reporter Cillian Shields meets some of the patients who are suffering from long Covid to find out how the virus has changed their lives.
This week, our Catalan phrase is "Val més curar-se en salut" which is equivalent to the English saying “Prevention is better than cure.” It emphasizes the importance of taking care of your health and preventing problems before they arise.
One of the UN's 17 goals for sustainable development is to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. To coincide with International Women’s Day on March 8, we dedicate an episode of Filling the Sink to female entrepreneurs, particularly those in traditionally male-dominated fields such as technology.
Lea Beliaeva Bander visits the Mobile World Congress at the Fira de Barcelona to meet some of the businesswomen who have created startups in Catalonia. At the 4YFN pavilion, she talks to five female entrepreneurs to gain different perspectives on the challenges faced by women in business in technology.
We meet Maja Završnik, CMO and co-founder of the educational platform SheAI, which helps women to learn how to use artificial intelligence in their businesses and to advance their careers. And host Beth Cohen analyses the statistics surrounding female startups in Catalonia and explores the importance of diversity in the business world.
Our Catalan phrase of the week is ‘buscar una agulla en un paller’ - to look for a needle in a haystack. Which we felt like, when looking for female founders at the 2025 MWC in Barcelona.
Located at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, MareNostrum 5 is part of a network of European supercomputers and is used to conduct research in fields such as biomedicine, geophysics, atmosphere, energy, society and economy, providing valuable data to the international scientific community.
Gerard Escaich Folch visits the picturesque chapel Torre Girona, where the MareNostrum supercomputer is installed. There, he meets José María Cela Espín, the director of Computer Applications in Science and Engineering at the Barcelona Supercomputer Centre. His department uses the 314 petaflops of MareNostrum 5’s processing power to develop software to efficiently exploit super-computing capabilities through the simulations and modeling. A flop is the unit to define how powerful a computer is, and is based on the number of calculations per second it can make. A standard computer would take 46 years to perform what MareNostrum 5 can achieve in just one hour.
Host Beth Cohen learns about the future of computing and we talk to Jan Nogué, a quantum engineer from Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech responsible for building the groundbreaking computer at BSC. We also discuss the cybersecurity risks associated with these new technologies and the measures that the BSC is taking to remain one step ahead of the hackers.
This week’s Catalan phrase is ‘Aquí hi ha gat amagat!’ which translates literally as ‘There is a cat shut in here!’. It is used to express suspicion that there is more to something than meets the eye… Rather like the case of Schrödinger’s cat, which can be simultaneously alive and dead, or that of qubits, the unit of measurement used in quantum computing.
Casa Orsola was built in the early 20th century by Italian businessman Joan Orsola; it is a beautiful modernist apartment building, located in the Eixample district in central Barcelona. However, in recent years it has become a symbol of the housing crisis, as tenants have been priced out by real estate speculation. In an unprecedented move, Barcelona City Council and Hàbitat3 are planning to acquire the building in order to halt the eviction processes and convert the apartments into protected housing.
Lea Beliaeva Bander returns to ‘Filling the Sink’ to report on this initiative which has sparked widespread criticism. We talk to Natalia Martínez, Director of Communication and Strategic Alliances at Hàbitat3, about social housing policies and their efficacy in resolving the housing crisis in the long term.
Host Beth Cohen explores what the joint purchase of Casa Orsola would mean for the residents and how the project would function on a practical level. Plus we meet Carme Arcarazo, spokesperson from the Tenants’ Union, who analyses the motives behind the purchase and expresses her reservations about the acquisition of private property with public funds.
This week’s Catalan phrase is ‘No hi ha pany que tanqui’ meaning ‘There is no lock that closes’. It is used to describe problems that have no easy solution, such as the housing situation in Barcelona.
The Goya awards ceremony held on February 8 was a testimony to the rising success of Catalan cinema, with prizes, applause and a feeling that Catalonia is one of the driving forces of world-class film production. This week on Filling the Sink we put our finger on the pulse of modern Catalan cinema, look back over its history and analyze future trends.
Catalan News journalist Lorcan Doherty highlights the results of the recent Goya and Gaudí awards. We speak with ‘El 47’ director Marcel Barrena and Hollywood filmmaker J. A. Bayona on the red carpet on the night of the Gaudí ceremony. We also discover the secrets to the success of Goya’s Best Supporting Actress Clara Segura, Best Directors Pol Rodríguez and Isaki Lacuesta, and Best Original Screenplay winner Eduard Sola for ‘A House on Fire.’
Host Beth Cohen analyzes the reasons behind the boom in Catalan cinema production and explains the key factors which are contributing to the growth of the film industry, including the fundamental role played by Catalonia’s leading film school, ESCAC.
This week’s Catalan phrase is ‘I van ser feliços i van menjar anissos’ meaning ‘And they all lived happily ever after’. It sounds like the perfect ending for a film.
Barcelona-born Enric Marco was celebrated as a survivor of a Nazi concentration camp, being awarded Catalonia’s highest civil distinction, the Creu de Sant Jordi, publicly sharing his experiences and even representing a survivors’ association. However in 2005 the historian Benito Bermejo discovered that Marco’s life story was a monumental lie.
Although he spent time in Germany during World War II, Marco was never held prisoner in Flossenbürg concentration camp as he claimed; in reality he voluntarily worked for the German war machine. Since then a lot has been published on the subject; there is a book by Javier Cercas, two films and endless media reports. But the question still remains - what led Marco to weave such a complicated web of lies?
We interview Benito Bermejo about the investigation leading up to Marco’s disclosure and learn about the thousands of Catalan Republicans who really were deported during the war and who perished in German concentration camps. Catalan News journalist Cillian Shields sits down with host Beth Cohen to explore the circumstances that led Marco to lie about his past and the historical context which favored the credibility of his story. We also talk to psychologist Dr. Drew Curtis, who specializes in deceit and pathological liars, and draw parallels with cases of other famous imposters.
This week’s Catalan phrase is ‘sembla mentida’ - it seems like a lie. ‘Sembla mentida’ that someone would fake being a concentration camp victim… but it actually happened.
Dragon Ball - or Bola de Drac Catalan - was created as a manga, a style of comic or graphic novel, by Akira Toriyama in 1984, and was later made into an animated television programme, also known as an anime. It was the first Japanese series of its kind to be dubbed into Catalan and is etched in the memory of generations of Catalans who grew up watching Son Goku on his quest for dragon balls.
We meet actor Marc Zanni, the legendary adult voice of the protagonist Son Goku, to discover why the dubbing of Dragon Ball helped to promote the Catalan language and foster a sense of cultural identity. Catalan News journalist Oriol Escudé visits Norma Comics in Barcelona to talk to some Dragon Ball fans and find out why the series formed such an important part of their childhood.
Oriol Estrada, a specialist in Japanese culture with a focus on manga and anime, discusses the historical context of the release of the series in the 1990s. And we meet Daniel Cassany, a researcher on reading and writing, as well as a professor of Discourse Analysis in the Catalan language at Universitat Pompeu Fabra, to find out about the future of entertainment in Catalan and how we can continue to create cultural content that resonates with audiences and thrives on social media platforms.
This week’s Catalan phrase is ‘setciències’, an archaic insult used by Vegeta in Dragon Ball which means ‘seven sciences’ and is the equivalent to being a ‘clever clogs’ or ‘know-it-all’ in English.
As Donald Trump returns to the White House, new US trading policies are predicted to bring increased tariffs on imports from Europe. On this week’s podcast, reporters Coralie Moreau and Gerard Escaich Folch join host Beth Cohen to discuss the future of the US trade relationship with Catalonia.
We talk to Cristina Serradell, director of international trading at Catalonia's Trade and Investment agency, who explains the threat posed to Catalan companies. Coralie interviews Professor Pedro Aznar from the Department of Economics, Finance and Accounting at the ESADE business and law school in Barcelona, to find out what Donald Trump's mandate could mean for the Catalan and European economies. And we discover how local businesses are planning to adjust their strategies following Trump’s inauguration.
This week’s Catalan phrase is “Salut i força al canut,” a quintessential way of wishing someone health and wealth. The ‘canut’ is an old-fashioned cylindrical purse which people wore tied to their belts and the phrase can be used as the equivalent of the English “Cheers!” to raise a toast before drinking.
Saint Anthony, Catalonia’s protector of animals, is honored with a feast day on January 17 every year. The festival is known as Els Tres Tombs, or 'the three laps' in English, and is celebrated in honor of both animals and the saint. This year marks the bicentenary of the Tres Tombs festival in Barcelona.
Andreu Bernadàs, president of the Catalan Tres Tombs federation, explains how the organization aims to keep knowledge of a past world alive, one in which the ‘traginer’ was an important element of society. The ‘traginer’, or ‘arriero’ in Spanish, was a person who transported goods between markets and towns, usually using mules. We find out how animals participate in the Tres Tombs parades held throughout Catalonia and Jordi Gispert from the Associació Defensa Drets Animal outlines the animal welfare guidelines for these events.
We also learn about the ruc català, Catalonia’s unique breed of donkey. Historically valued for it’s size and strength, numbers have declined drastically since the industrial revolution. We talk to members of the Adopt a Donkey movement and visit a sanctuary run by Gratitud Pallars to find out how the efforts of local people and the donations of animal lovers could save this rare animal from extinction.
This week’s Catalan phrase is “Venir a tomb”, meaning that something is appropriate or right in a given situation. The word “tomb” means twist or turn, and can also be used to describe a short walk, such as the three laps of the village typical of the Tres Tombs parades.
A housing cooperative is a property owned by a business or housing association in which the residents gain equity by buying shares. It’s a distinctive form of home ownership which is gaining popularity across Catalonia in the face of the housing crisis. This week on Filling the Sink we take a closer look at the pros and cons of cooperative housing.
Catalan News reporter Coralie Moreau explains the origins of cooperative housing, the different models and the process by which inhabitants can enter a cooperative and acquire a flat. We talk to members of the cooperatives La Borda, La Morada and La Voliana to discover the philosophies behind the different collectives. Host Beth Cohen explores the economic aspect and reveals how cooperatives are able to offer more affordable housing by operating as non-profit organizations and carrying out repairs and maintenance internally. Housing policies specialist Ángela Garcia Bernardos, professor of Social Work at the University of Barcelona, outlines the difficulties of integrating cooperative housing projects into current urban planning.
This week’s Catalan phrase is “Si vols estar ben servit, fes-te tu mateix el llit”, the equivalent to the English phrase “If you want something done properly, do it yourself.” This is a motto which the members of Catalonia’s cooperative housing projects have taken to heart, as they work together for a better collective future.
On December 30, 1924, the first section of Barcelona's city metro was inaugurated, running between Plaça Catalunya and Lesseps. Thousands of Barcelona residents continue to commute daily along this section of what is now line 3, perhaps unaware that they are travelling through tunnels with one hundred years of history. As the metro’s centenary approaches, we dedicate an episode of Filling the Sink to exploring its origins and discovering how it continues to stay on track in a modern and ever-changing world.
Catalan News journalist Cillian Shields meets Marta Torres, author of the book Barcelona, Metro a Metro, to listen to some of the fascinating stories behind the station names. Correspondent Coralie Moreau takes a musical journey though the metro and chats to some of the musicians who make a living busking underground. And host Beth Cohen investigates some of the activities that the Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona have organized for the centenary celebrations, including ghost station visits, an exhibition of old train carriages and an underground race through the tunnels.
This week’s Catalan phrase is an easy but very useful one that you may hear whilst riding on the metro, “Pròxima estació”, meaning “next station”. So don’t miss your stop and don’t miss this week’s podcast!
Spain’s annual Christmas lottery will take place on December 22; it is the biggest and most popular draw of the year and an event of great cultural importance for many Catalan citizens. This week on Filling the Sink we’ll be exploring the history of this festive prize draw and discovering how it is celebrated.
The Loteria de Nadal has been celebrated since 1812 and is the second-longest continuously running lottery in the world, as well the biggest in terms of the total prize payout. This draw is more than just a game of chance, it’s an important part of Catalan culture and of the Christmas tradition.
Catalan News journalist Oriol Escudé explains the origins of the draw as a way to raise money for the defense of Cádiz against Napoleon’s troops. Host Beth Cohen discovers who the students of San Ildefonso school are and why their singing forms part of the lottery draw held in the Teatro Real in Madrid. We visit some of Barcelona’s most iconic ticket outlets to meet lottery vendors and discuss the odds of winning ‘El Gordo’, as well as the controversy surrounding state taxation of winnings. We also chat to some of the players about their lucky numbers and how they hope to beat the odds this year.
This week’s Catalan phrase is “Néixer amb la flor al cul” - literally “to be born with a flower in your bottom”. It refers to good fortune acquired without effort and can be compared with the English phrase “to be born with a silver spoon in your mouth”.
As Christmas time approaches and 2024 draws to a close, we’ll be dedicating an episode of Filling the Sink to an annual review, summarizing some of this year’s most important news and taking a look at what is on the cards for Catalonia in 2025.
Host Beth Cohen sits down with Catalan News journalist Lorcan Doherty to look back over the major events which happened in 2024 and discuss the best and the worst of this year’s news. We have seen extreme weather events, starting the year with a critical drought situation which was worsened by heat waves, and whilst the DANA in October brought much needed rain it also had catastrophic consequences which raised questions about Catalonia’s vulnerability in the face of climate change.
On a political level, there have been two elections, an amnesty law, a new president and the surprise return of Carles Puigdemont in August. Gerard Escaich Folch, head of Catalan News, recalls the uncertainty surrounding his short visit.
There have been protests about the housing crisis and Catalonia adopted a rent cap law to protect the right to affordable housing. Anti-tourism protesters also made the headlines as they sprayed water guns at holiday-makers in Barcelona.
And on a sad note, we also said goodbye to the oldest living person in the world, Maria Branyas Morera from Olot, who passed away in August at 117 years old. This week’s Catalan phrase is “Anys i panys” - “Years and locks” - which refers to the passage of time.
Catalan is currently spoken by more than 10 million people in four different countries: Spain, Andorra, France and Italy. This week on Filling the Sink we reveal what it’s like to learn Catalan as a foreign language, find out who is studying it and why and discover the importance of our national language. Catalan News journalist Cillian Shields talks to Catalan teacher, language influencer, and content creator, Júlia Riera, about the success of her educational channel, @dailycatalan. Host Beth Cohen discusses the popularity of the free Catalan classes for beginners run by the CPNL. And we meet Gerhard Kirsten, a mathematician from South Africa who has documented his progress learning Catalan on social media. This week’s Catalan phrase is “Qui no té feina, el gat pentina”, the equivalent to the English phrase “Idle hands are the devil’s playthings”. So if you’re looking for something to do this weekend, tune in to Filling the Sink and learn some Catalan with us!
On October 29, an isolated upper-level depression affected Spain, causing heavy rain and floods. One month on, we discuss the tragedy, explore whether Catalonia is prepared for this kind of meteorological phenomenon and question why these slow-moving storm systems are becoming increasingly frequent.
Catalan News journalist Oriol Escudé talks to scientists and climate change experts David Pino and Davide Faranda, who explain the climatological conditions of the Spanish Mediterranean basin. We learn how human activity is affecting the intensity of storms and find out why construction in flood prone areas is still permitted.
To learn more about how Catalonia handles extreme weather events, we visit the Protecció Civil control and crisis centers and meet the Deputy Director of Operations, Imma Solé. Host Beth Cohen unveils Catalonia’s long history of flood episodes and analyzes current drought statistics to discover that every cloud has a silver lining.
This week’s Catalan phrase is “Qui sembra vents, recull tempestats” - in English, “He who sows winds, reaps storms”. It can perhaps serve as a warning that, if we continue to mistreat the planet and climate change advances, we can expect more storms like this in future.
This Saturday November 23 the Tenant’s Union accompanied by dozens of housing activism organizations have planned a protest in Barcelona to demand a significant reduction in rents. We discuss the housing crisis, analyze the reasons behind rising prices and find out how tenants are fighting back.
Host Beth Cohen is joined by Catalan News journalist Cillian Shields to explore how the housing situation has evolved in recent years. Cillian talks to tenants about the difficulties of renting in Barcelona, the increasingly unfavorable contracts offered by landlords and the saturated housing market. Beth investigates the rent cap law, finds out what a ‘tense housing zone’ is and discovers how landlords are using legal loopholes to continue to charge prices which reflect market demand.
We interview some of the key figures involved in Saturday’s protest, including Carme Arcarazo, the spokesperson for the Tenants´ Union, and Judit Esposa, a representative of a housing union in the Barcelona neighborhood of Gràcia. They clarify what the protest hopes to achieve, while experts question the viability of a rent strike.
Filling the Sink also reveals how locals are being priced out of their neighborhoods, as tourism and luxury real estate put pressure on rental prices. For those who do want to stay, compromise comes in the form of a flat share or moving back into the family home, neither of which are desirable options for working adults.
This week’s Catalan phrase is “Començar la casa per la teulada” - to start the house with the roof. It means to do things in the wrong order and is the equivalent of the English saying “To put the cart before the horse.”
Everyone loves a good breakfast, and in this week’s episode of Filling the Sink we’ll be investigating two different traditions, the Catalan 'esmorzars de forquilla' versus the international trend of brunch.
Over the last few years, brunch bars have opened up all over central Barcelona, particularly in tourist hotspots such as the area around the Sagrada Familia. To find out more about the rising trend of brunch, Catalan News journalist Oriol Escudé visits Billy Brunch, one of the most famous brunch chains in the city. Owner Billy Thorens shares the secrets to his success and we chat to some of the customers to find out what’s so great about brunch.
Host Beth Cohen investigates the ‘esmorzar de forquilla’ - Catalonia’s own traditional morning meal - and finds out how it has been making a comeback and “declaring war on brunch”. We have breakfast with Albert Molins, a journalist from La Vanguardia and founder of EsmorzApp, an app which enables users to find restaurants serving the traditional hearty Catalan breakfasts in their area.
After trying both options, Beth and Oriol discuss the future of local cuisine and declare their own personal favorites in the battle of the breakfasts. This week’s Catalan phrase is “menjar amb els ulls” - to eat with your eyes - when something looks so good that you just have to eat it.
November 9 is the tenth anniversary of the 2014 Catalan self-determination vote and to mark the occasion we’ll be looking at the independence push over the last few years.
Catalan News Agency journalist Guifré Jordan gives us an overview of the events leading up to the 2014 self-determination vote, the unofficial referendums between 2009 and 2011 and the protests which took place in Barcelona in 2010 and 2012. We listen to some of the Catalan citizens who went to the polls on November 9, 2014 to find out their reasons for voting and their hopes for a better future. Journalist and head of Catalan News Gerard Escaich Folch introduces some of the key pro-independence leaders, such as Artur Mas and David Fernàndez. We also explore the reactions of the Spanish government to both the 2014 and 2017 voting and discuss the main differences. Host Beth Cohen draws parallels with other national and international situations and reflects on the future of the pro-independence movement in Catalonia.
This week’s Catalan phrase is “Fer mans i mànigues” which means to make that extra effort and do everything possible to achieve your goal. It’s an inspirational phrase to round off this week’s podcast on Catalan independence.
Despite its popularity as a recreational drug, cannabis has also been used throughout history to relieve pain and aid relaxation.
Beth Cohen and Emma Monròs investigate the uses of this controversial plant in contemporary medicine, discovering its effects, benefits and contraindications. Emma talks to doctor Magí Farré, head of clinical pharmacology at the Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital in Badalona, to find out how cannabis-derived pharmaceuticals are currently administered and how changes in the law could benefit sufferers of certain conditions such as chronic pain, cancer, and multiple sclerosis.
To find out more about legal cannabis cultivation, we visit Canamedics in Manresa, the first company in Catalonia with an official license to grow medicinal cannabis. Owner and co-founder Luis Comas talks to us about this groundbreaking enterprise and explains the challenges they are facing.
This week’s Catalan phrase is “Que bé s’està quan s’està bé ” - how good you are when you are good. It’s used to express gratitude and recognize your good fortune when things are going well. It’s a perfect feel-good phrase to end this podcast about health and wellbeing on a high!
As All Saints Day approaches on November 1, many Catalan families will be visiting the graves of their loved ones, taking flowers and paying their respects to the dead.
To mark the occasion, Beth Cohen and Emma Monrós dive into the history of two of Barcelona’s most iconic cemeteries, Poblenou and Montjuïc. Emma talks to Adrià Terol, cultural manager of the cemeteries in Barcelona, about the history of funeral rituals in the city. Adrià explains how the niche tomb appeared as an egalitarian burial solution and how the bourgeoisie later reintroduced grandeur to the graveyard.
We admire the sculptures in Montjuïc cemetery, such as the famous Petó de la Mort (Kiss of Death), and visit the Museum of Funeral Carriages to see some of the historic vehicles there. Beth finds out how locals celebrate at this time of year and we brainstorm some ideas of spooky things to see and do in and around Barcelona for Halloween.
This week’s Catalan phrase is “Assemblar-se com un ou a una castanya” - to be as similar as an egg and a chestnut, which of course are as different as chalk and cheese. It’s a perfect phrase to use as la Castanyada approaches!
Get in touch with the podcast team: fillingthesink@acn.cat
October 19th is the World Health Organization’s International Day Against Breast Cancer.
In 2022, more than 2 million people worldwide were diagnosed with the illness, while the number of diagnoses here in Catalonia last year was around 5,400.
Although breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed type of cancer in women, it has one of the highest survival rates, which have improved year after year.
On the 200th episode of Filling the Sink, Oriol Escudé Macià joins Lea Beliaeva Bander to talk about some of the realities and myths surrounding breast cancer and who is at risk of getting it.
We hear personal stories from breast cancer survivors Mònica Roldán, Grindel Darwich, and Anna Bacardit, as well as from campaigners Alba Martínez and Aurora Fernàndez, president of the association Ginkgo.
We highlight the importance of early detection and discuss both private and public healthcare options and hear from oncologists about their biggest challenges.
This week’s Catalan phrase is “de mica en mica s’ompla la pica”, which translates to “little by little the sink fills up,” and is the phrase behind the name of the podcast, and means “one step at a time.”
Get in touch with the podcast team: fillingthesink@acn.cat
SEAT is known as one of the largest companies in Catalonia and one of the biggest car manufacturers in Europe, selling over half a million cars in 2023 alone.
The classic SEAT 600 was more than just a car - it was the model that democratized driving in Spain, got millions of people on the road, and served as a symbol of a rapidly industrializing country in the mid-20th century.
On October 18, 1971, in the final decade of the Franco dictatorship, a pivotal moment in the workers’ rights movement occurred when SEAT workers staged a strike at the Zona Franca factory in Barcelona to protest the unjust firing of their colleagues.
What began as a labor strike escalated into a deadly 12-hour clash with Franco police, resulting in the tragic killing of worker Antonio Ruiz Villalba, and numerous injuries.
Cillian Shields joins Lea Beliaeva Bander to discuss the 1971 SEAT strike - one of the biggest flashpoints of late Francoist Spain, what led up to it, and what the outcome was.
We will also hear first-hand accounts from Pedro López, who was one of the strike organizers, as well as Carles Vallejo, one of the dismissed workers.
This week’s Catalan phrase is “fer historia” which means “to make history.”
Get in touch with the podcast team: fillingthesink@acn.cat
Last Saturday, around 5,000 people gathered for the 11th edition of the Barcelona International Community Day at the Maritime Museum, just off the famous La Rambla boulevard.
The annual event welcomes the international community for a day of talks, workshops, and networking activities to help newcomers to Catalonia settle in, meet people, and get tips on how to enjoy the Catalan capital.
Lorcan Doherty and Gerard Escaich Folch from the Catalan News came prepared to the event with a Catalonia trivia quiz and got to chat with readers and listeners about what their expectations were when they made the big move, and how these compared with the reality once they were here.
Whether people came for a job opportunity, the good weather, or were inspired by a novel, they are now part of the growing international community that makes up a quarter of all residents living in Barcelona.
Gerard sits down with host Lea Beliaeva Bander to catch up on all that went down during the event.
This week’s Catalan phrase is “Benvinguts, passeu, passeu” - in English “Welcome, come in, come in”, which is part of the chorus of the Catalan singer-songwriter Jaume Sisa’s popular song “Qualsevol nit pot sortir el sol.”
Get in touch with the podcast team: fillingthesink@acn.cat
While most people were away on vacation this summer, it was announced that the Catalan Socialists had made a deal with the pro-independence Esquerra Republicana to create a new financing model in Catalonia. If approved, it will be implemented in 2026.
The deal would, among other things, give Catalonia more economic independence and create what some call a “fairer” system. Other, more critical voices have characterized it as “poison for the welfare state”.
But what exactly does this new proposal entail and how is it different from the current tax system?
Lorcan Doherty and Lea Beliaeva Bander explain everything you need to know about the model, from what the changes will mean for Catalonia and Spain to how Spanish and Catalan politicians have reacted.
We will also break down concepts such as the “solidarity payment,” and the ranking principle, or “el principi d’ordinalitat”.
Núria Bosch and Maite Vilalta, the co-directors of the Fiscal Federalism Observatory at the Barcelona Institute of Economics and professors of economics at the University of Barcelona, explain how the new Catalan model compares to federal taxing systems in other parts of the world.
The Catalan phrase of the week is “la clau de la caixa,” which means “the key to the safe”. It not strictly an idiom, but a phrase used often when discussing the new deal.
Get in touch with the podcast team: fillingthesink@acn.cat
The Catalan capital on the Mediterranean coast has always been a city that attracts immigration, whether people come in search of a better job, a better life, or just an adventure. Barcelona inhabitants - old and new - are also known as people who are always ready to fight for their rights. The latest movie, ‘El 47’, tells one of these stories.
Set in the late 1970s in the marginalized neighborhood of Torre Baró, on the side of the Collserola mountain range that surrounds the Catalan capital, it centers around Manolo Vital, an immigrant from the southern Spanish region of Extremadura, who came to Barcelona in the 1950s to escape Francoist repression.
He and many others bought small plots of land on the outskirts of the city and began building their homes and the neighborhood from the ground up, with little support from local Barcelona authorities.
As a result, the residents lacked basic services such as electricity, running water, paved roads, schools, and buses.
But one day, Manolo Vital took matters into his own hands.
Emma Monrós Rosell joins Lea Beliaeva Bander to talk about the story behind the movie. We also catch up with Marcel Barrena, the director of ‘El 47’, as well as leading actors Eduard Fernández, Zoe Bonafonte, and Carlos Cuevas.
We also visit Torre Baró and hear from José Antonio Martínez and José Antonio Romero, who explain some of the current challenges facing the neighborhood.
The Catalan phrase of the week is “fer més voltes que un rellotge,” similar to the English “to work around the clock”.
Get in touch with the podcast team: fillingthesink@acn.cat.
This week marks the official back-to-school week in Catalonia.
According to official figures, 1.3 million Catalans have started or returned to classrooms, noisy schoolyards, and the routine of heavy backpacks and homework.
While the vast majority of Catalan students attend public schools, a growing number are enrolled in private institutions, particularly international schools.
Over the past decade, Catalonia has become an international hub, increasing the demand for international schools, which are private institutions where the curriculum differs from the Catalan one.
Catalonia is now home to nearly fifty international schools, three of which are in the top ten of Forbes’ 2024 list of the 100 best schools in Spain.
Oriol Escudé Macià joins host Lea Beliaeva Bander, to explore the world of international schools - from tuition fees and languages taught to the student body they attract.
We also talk to postdoctoral researcher Andrea Sunyol as well as education consultant and founder of My Barcelona School, Anya van der Drift, who shed light on why international schools have become so popular, what they offer, and how they have evolved.
The Catalan phrase is “posar-se les piles,” which literally translates to “put in the batteries”, and means to get more active or energetic, sometimes after a long vacation, much like the English phrase “get to work” - appropriate for the back-to-school season.
It’s September - a time that means back to work, school, or the start of something new. This year, the same can be said for Catalan politics, as Salvador Illa has been sworn in as the new president of the Catalan government.
For the first time since 2010, the Catalan Socialist Party has taken power, but more importantly, the leadership now rests with a party that opposes Catalan independence.
After the former Catalan President, Pere Aragonès, of the pro-independence Esquerra Republicana, failed to secure enough support for the 2024 budget, a snap election was called in May.
The socialists, led by Salvador Illa, won in terms of seats and votes, but fell short of an absolute majority, forcing them to seek support from other parties.
After months of political wrangling and re-election talks, Illa secured the necessary support from Esquerra Republicana and left-wing Comuns Sumar to be appointed president of Catalonia.
However, before Illa could be sworn in, Catalonia was shaken by the return and subsequent mysterious escape of former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont, who left Catalonia for Belgium after the 2017 independence referendum.
On this week’s podcast, Gerard Escaich Folch once again joins Lea Beliava Bander to unpack who the new socialist government is, what the road to the presidency was like, and some of the major challenges facing the new minority government.
We will also explore what the future holds for the fragmented pro-independence movement and answer the question: Are we witnessing a paradigm shift in Catalan politics?
This week’s Catalan phrase is “Quan una porta es tanca, una altra s'obre,” in English “When one door closes, another one opens.”
Get in touch with the podcast team: fillingthesink@acn.cat
Modernism is one of the most important art movements in Catalonia, one that played a crucial role in shaping the cultural identity of Catalonia at the turn of the 20th century.
The movement drew clear inspiration from parallel artistic trends throughout Europe, known by different names such as Art Nouveau, Jugendstil, or Modern Style.
While the world of painters was very male-dominated, with Catalans Ramon Casas and Santiago Rusiñol responsible for bringing the movement from Paris to Catalonia, a few women also made their mark on the movement in Catalonia, namely Lluïsa Vidal.
Emma Monrós Rosell joins Lea Beliaeva Bander to delve into this pivotal art movement, exploring some of its defining characteristics and motifs, as well as some of its most influential artists.
We hear from art historian Elina Norandi, who sheds light on the notable absence of women in this movement, and we share some recommendations for contemporary female Catalan artists to watch.
This week’s Catalan phrase is “Una flor no fa estiu, ni dues primavera,” which translates as ”One swallow does not make a summer.”
Get in touch with the podcast team: fillingthesink@acn.cat
For centuries, Catalans have enjoyed “la hora del vermut,” or in English “the vermouth hour”, a time during the day when people slow down and sip a cool glass of vermouth while catching up on life.
But what exactly is vermouth, where does it come from, and is it difficult to make yourself?
Cillian Shields joins Lea Beliaeva Bander to chat about all things vermut, and together with the Catalan News team we visit the self-proclaimed Land of vermouth, Les Vermudes, located in the Sant Antoni neighborhood of Barcelona, where our vermouth professor Elena tells us all about this versatile drink, its origins, and how it got its name. And as if that weren’t enough, we also got to make our own.
This week we couldn’t decide on just one Catalan phrase, so we came up with two: Fer el vermut, which literally means to make a vermouth, and refers to the ritual of catching up with friends with or without a glass of vermouth. The second Catalan phrase is “Reus, Londres i París”, or “Reus, London and Paris”. To hear the story behind the second saying, check out this week’s episode.
Get in touch with the podcast team: fillingthesink@acn.cat
Catalan literary agent Carmen Balcells considered a revolutionary in the publishing industry, was single-handedly responsible for turning it on its head.
She dignified the writing profession by banning lifetime contracts and ensuring writers could make a living from their craft and negotiate their terms.
Through her literary agency, which she founded during the Franco dictatorship in Spain, she played a pivotal role in the Latin American literary boom of the 1960s, discovering and publishing future bestselling authors, such as Gabriel García Márquez and Isabel Allende.
She passed away in 2015, and August 9th would have been her 94th birthday.
Cillian Shields joins Lea Beliaeva Bander to celebrate Balcells’ birthday by delving into her life and legacy.
Maribel Luque, the director of the Carmen Balcells Literary Agency, and Laura Palomares, the granddaughter of Balcells will help us understand who this icon was personally and professionally.
Instead of a Catalan phrase, this week we've chosen a quote from the legend herself, saying that “Anyone can write a good first book - it’s in the second novel that writers prove themselves”.
Get in touch with the podcast team: fillingthesink@acn.cat
Barcelona is the city in the world with the most extensive history of barricade fights. These words come from philosopher Friedrich Engels, and many other thinkers have pointed to Barcelona as the city of revolutions.
115 years ago, on July 25, 1909, the Catalan capital witnessed one of the first popular uprisings of the century, known as the Tragic Week or La Setmana Tràgica in Catalan.
What began as an anti-war movement opposing the conscription for the colonial war in Morroco, soon turned into an anti-clerical revolt. And it left a striking image: the Barcelona sky filled with smoke, as more than 80 churches were set on fire.
Oriol Escudé Macià joins Lea Beliaeva Bander to revisit the uprising and explain the meaning behind Barcelona’s nickname ‘Rose of Fire’ or Rosa de Foc. We hear from historian Josep Pich from the University of Pompeu Fabra, who argues that the events should be renamed as the Revolution of 1909.
We also catch up with historian Salvador Lou, one of the guides of the Barcelona Rebelde tours, who explains how Barcelona became the capital of revolutionary movements.
The Catalan phrase of the week is “jugar amb foc,” which means to play with fire.
Get in touch with the podcast team: fillingthesink@acn.cat
Every year in Catalonia, the LGBTI+ community celebrates Pride, an almost month-long celebration of events, talks, demonstrations, and more, culminating in the big Pride demonstration or Parade in Barcelona, on Saturday, July 20th.
Barcelona Pride Month is not only a celebration of the freedom to be yourself but also a moment when the community reminds everyone of the work that still needs to be done by focusing on one specific theme.
This year, the main theme of Barcelona Pride is LGBTI+ education, under the title “Education in Sexual and Gender Diversity: A pending subject”.
Organizers and activists are calling for a more inclusive school curriculum, diversity training for teachers, and for schools to function as safer spaces.
Lorcan Doherty joins host Lea Beliaeva Bander to chat about the need for diversity-focused education in the classroom.
We hear from Katy Pallàs, a longtime queer activist and former teacher about the PEER project, which stands for ‘Programa Educatiu Escoles Rainbow,’ an initiative that seeks to make schools more inclusive.
We also talk to Olga Sánchez, a teacher at the Sant Felip Neri School, one of Barcelona’s Rainbow Schools, about her work, and Teo Pardo, a biology teacher and trans man about him using his own lived experience as part of teaching diversity.
This week’s Catalan phrase is “paper mullat”, which literally translates to “wet paper” and means useless or not worth the paper it’s written on.
Get in touch with the podcast team: fillingthesink@acn.ca
On July 12th, 1984, the first baby was born through assisted reproduction in Barcelona and all of Spain, but the path to motherhood is not always as linear and easy as it is portrayed.
Fertility treatment is becoming more and more common throughout the world, and in Spain, one in every ten children in the Spanish state is born thanks to this technology.
This is due in particular to three factors: increasing infertility rates, a higher age for having a first child, and the access to reproductive assistance for single parents and queer couples.
But despite all of this, there is still a lot of stigma, secrecy, and sometimes shame associated with this way of having children.
On this week’s podcast, Cillian Shields and Lea Beliaeva Bander talk to Paula, Montserrat, Marta, and Violeta, four women who have all undergone assisted reproduction in Catalonia, about the ups and downs of fertility treatment, breaking stigmas, creating new family structures and much more.
The Catalan phrase of the week is “A poc a poc i amb bona lletra” which means that things have to be done with calm and patience to work out
Get in touch with the podcast team: fillingthesink@acn.cat
Forty years ago, on July 12th, 1984, the first baby was born through assisted reproduction in Barcelona and in all of Spain.
At the time, the news of a couple seeking help to conceive at the Barcelona Dexeus private hospital made headlines everywhere. But a lot has happened since then: in 2006, assisted reproduction became available for free through the public health system throughout Spain. Later, in 2016, a change in the law also made it possible for single mothers and queer couples to avail of the service, and by 2023, thanks to the so-called Spanish “trans law,” trans people had also gained access.
Today, the Spanish government estimates that around 10% of all babies born in Spain are the result of assisted reproduction, and that number is growing every year.
Cillian Shields joins Lea Beliaeva Bander to chat about the system of assisted reproduction in Catalonia, how it has evolved over time, what the different types of treatment mean, and why it brings people from all over the world to Catalonia.
We will also talk to Anna Veiga, the pioneering Catalan doctor and biologist who led the first IVF birth in all of Spain, and Dr. Federica Moffa, the medical director of the private fertility clinic Fertilab, about reproductive tourism.
For the first time in the history of Filling the Sink, this episode will be the first of two dedicated to a single topic, so remember to stay tuned for the next episode, where we talk to four women about their experiences with assisted reproduction in Catalonia.
This week’s Catalan phrase is “donar a llum”, which literally means “to give to light” and is the Catalan way of saying “to give birth.”
Get in touch with the podcast team: fillingthesink@acn.cat
For more than 200 years, Catalans have celebrated the sky-reaching tradition of castells, literally castles in Catalan, when groups of people gather to climb on top of each other to build the highest castle.
Although the tradition suffered waves of decline up to the point of disappearance, it experienced a renaissance in the 1980s, and in 2010 UNESCO included castells on its list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity, bringing the popularity of human towers’ popularity to unprecedented heights.
Lea Beliaeva Bander is joined by Oriol Escudé Macià to chat out the ins and outs of castells, including learning vocabulary such as “colla”, “pinya”, “enxaneta”, and “gamma extra”, and finding out who the typical casteller is, and much more.
We talk to one of the largest "colles", or castells groups, the Castellers de Vilafranca, about the importance of good mental health when doing the activity, and we also talk to Stephen “Cuss” Anderson, the president of the Castellers of London, who brought the towers overseas after seeing castells in their hometown of Valls near Tarragona.
This week’s Catalan phrase is “per pinya,” which means “to stick together” or “support each other” typically in challenging situations, and is an expression that is used both inside and outside of the castells.
Get in touch with the podcast team: fillingthesink@acn.cat
This year marks the 74th edition of the world’s largest motor racing event, the Formula One World Championship.
Since 1991, the Spanish Grand Prix has been held at the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit in Montmeló, half an hour north of the Catalan capital.
However, this year could be one of the last times the Spanish race is held in Catalonia, as Madrid has signed a new ten-year deal with Formula One.
But with the future uncertain, the event could also be shared between the two cities, similar to the arrangements from 1969 to 1975 and later, from 2008 to 2012, when F1 races were held in both Barcelona and Valencia.
Faced with the threat of losing the F1, the organizers brought the excitement to the heart of Barcelona, inviting fans to the Formula One Fan Village in the Plaza Catalunya Square and later, showcasing the horsepower of some of the race cars with a spectacular road show on the Catalan capital’s central Passeig de Gràcia boulevard.
The event sparked excitement among fans, who gained exclusive access to an otherwise expensive event, as well as frustration among environmentalists, who argued that it was another part of the privatization of public spaces in Barcelona.
Gerard Escaich Folch joins Lea Beliaeva Bander to chat about the history, present, and future of the Spanish Grand Prix.
We capture the excitement of F1 fans and the noise of engines and tires during the roadshow and hear from protesting environmentalists.
We also talk to David Vàzquez, the president of the Vallès Oriental Hotels Guild, who explains the economic consequences of moving the Spanish Grand Prix from the Barcelona-Catalunya racetrack.
The Catalan phrase of the week is the Formula One appropriate “Fer una parada a boxes”, which means to “make a pit stop.”
Get in touch with the podcast team atfillingthesink@acn.cat.
Barcelona’s haute cuisine restaurant ‘Disfrutar’ has been named the World’s Best Restaurant in the 22nd edition of the prestigious ranking “The World’s 50 Best Restaurants.”
With this accolade, head chefs and creators Mateu Casañas, Oriol Castro, and Eduard Xatruch have added another star to the Catalan culinary constellation, joining the ranks of renowned establishments such as El Bulli, el Celler de Can Roca, and many others.
The name “Disfrutar”, which means “enjoy” in Spanish, reflects the restaurant’s philosophy of offering visitors an extraordinary dining experience that goes beyond just food, tapping into their senses, emotions, and memories.
Gerard Escaich Folch joins Lea Beliaeva Bander to chat about the restaurant’s gastronomic success and its origins.
We also visit Disfrutar, located in the heart of Barcelona’s Eixample district, and catch up with Eduard Xatruch, who shares some of the secrets behind the exclusive eatery and explains what guests can expect when they walk through the doors.
This week, Xatruch brings us the Catalan phrase: “No diguis blat fins que estigui al sac i ben lligat,” which literally translates to “Don’t say wheat until it’s harvested and secured,” akin to the English “Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched.”
Get in touch with the podcast team: fillingthesink@acn.cat
For the past four days, EU citizens have been casting their ballots in the European Parliament elections. In Catalonia and the rest of Spain, Sunday, June 9th was the big day.
Gerard Escaich Folch joins Lea Beliaeva Bander the morning after for a Filling the Sink post-election special to break down the results in Europe, Spain, and Catalonia.
Millions of people have flocked to polling stations across the European Union to make their voices heard, and in Spain’s case, to elect the 61 representatives for Spain in the European Parliament.
The main issues in this election cycle were the war in Ukraine, arms versus defense, the Green Deal, migration, and the rise of the far right all over the Union.
In Spain, the results showed a narrow victory for the right and far-right parties, while the Socialists secured a majority in Catalonia.
We hear reactions from all the Catalan parties that made it cut, including the far-right anti-establishment party Se acabó la Fiesta, as well as the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
We discuss what the ballot results will mean for European politics over the next five years and how it could all affect Catalonia.
The Catalan phrase of the week is ‘L’Oda a l’Alegría’ or ‘Ode to Joy’ in English, which was originally composed by Beethoven in 1823, with words adapted from a 1785 poem by Friedrich Schiller, and adopted as the Anthem of Europe in 1972 by the European Council and later by the European Union.
Get in touch with the podcast team: fillingthesink@acn.cat
On May 30th, under sun, thunder, and lightning, Primavera Sound, the biggest festival in Spain descended on Barcelona’s Parc del Fòrum for the 22nd time, kicking off this year’s summer festival season in Catalonia.
With a solid mix of Catalan summer hits, rock bangers, catchy pop tunes, and international names such as Lana Del Rey, Pulp, Deftones, and Troye Sivan, the 268,000 attendees were in for the party of the year.
We talk to the up-and-coming Catalan artist Mama Dousha, whose infectious dance tune ‘Rikiti’ has everyone on the dancefloor, about what it is like being a new artist in Catalonia and his decision to sing in Catalan instead of English.
Oriol Escudè Maciá joins Lea Beliaeva Bander to teleport listeners back to a weekend of music and fun, and to give a rundown of all the biggest concerts and festivals in Catalonia this summer.
The Catalan phrase of the week is “Qui canta, els seus mals espanta”, which literally means “He who sings, scares away his troubles,” similar to “to sing away your pain.”
Get in touch with the podcast team: fillingthesink@acn.cat.
Since 1980, at the end of May, the western Catalan city of Lleida becomes the snail center of Catalonia, where hundreds of people get together to celebrate the annual Catalan Snail Gathering, or l’Aplec del cargol in Catalan.
Fans of the tiny molluscs unite for a weekend of gastronomy, but also of competitions, concerts, and the Catalan human towers, castells.
For this last edition of the festival, a whopping 15 tons of snails were devoured by hungry participants, many of whom washed down the delicacy with cold beer.
Oriol Escudé Macià and Ona Van Dyck join the festivities at the world’s largest snail-eating fest and return to Barcelona to talk about the experience with host Lea Beliaeva Bander.
We talk to different colles and attendees at the Aplec and get deep into all things snail, from how to cook and eat them to their health benefits and snail farming, and we answer pressing questions such as what do snails taste like, and are Catalans the world’s biggest snail eaters?
The Catalan phrase of the week is, fittingly, ‘enganyar com als cargols’, which literally translates to ‘to deceive like snails’ and means to betray someone’s trust.
Tune in to find out how the phrase relates to this week’s podcast.
Finding affordable housing has long been a problem in Catalonia and Spain, and in March, the Spanish government introduced a reference index for rent prices to keep them from rising.
But the new rent cap created loopholes and had the opposite effect of increasing prices on short-term leases, while long-term housing became even harder to find.
In response, the Catalan government rushed through regulations but failed to garner the support to make it a permanent law.
Cillian Shields and Ona Van Dyck join Lea Beliaeva Bander to explain the different housing laws and highlight the huge gap between the law and reality.
We hear from Barcelona real estate agent Tine Mathiessen, and Carme Arcarazo of the Catalan Tenants’ Union, as well as the experiences of Catalan renters.
The Catalan phrase of the week is ‘- Què hem de fer? Vendre la casa i anar de lloguer’, which means “What should we do? Sell the house and go rent” is a rhyming answer to a question you don’t know the answer to.
The Catalan snap election is over, and the voters gave the Catalan Socialist Party, PSC, a whopping 28% of the vote, which translates into 42 seats. But falling short of an absolute majority of 68 seats, the results mean that the Socialists now have to find new alliances to form a government.
This episode of Filling the Sink was recorded bright and early on the first morning of the new political cycle.
Gerard Eschaich Folch joins Lea Beliaeva Bander to break down the election results and answer the question: who will govern Catalonia for the next four years and what is in store for us?
The early May elections, the result of a failed budget deal in the Catalan Parliament in March, showed how the Catalan independence parties seem to have lost momentum, even though Junts+Puigdemont for Catalonia won three more seats compared to 2021.
The biggest loss was seen in the left-wing Esquerra Republicana, a party that went from governing to losing 13 seats, while the anti-capitalist formation CUP lost half of its seats, ending up with only 4.
At the same time, the conservative pro-unionist People’s Party celebrated its biggest victory in years with 12 new seats, becoming the fourth largest party in the Catalan parliament, while the far-right VOX maintained its 11 seats from the last cycle.
The biggest surprise was the entry of the far-right pro-independence party Aliança Catalana, which won 2 seats in Catalonia.
We will hear the reactions from all the major presidential candidates and talk about what coalitions we can expect - with some being more likely than others.
The Catalan phrase of the week is ‘colze a colze’ which means arm in arm, something the parties will now have to do to form a lasting coalition.
On May 11, we celebrate the 120th anniversary of the birth of the legendary Catalan artist Salvador Dalí, whose influence on the art world continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
The surrealist painter was born in the northern Catalan town of Figueres, but spent most of his life in the picturesque coastal towns of Cadaques and Port Lligat, from where he drew much of his inspiration.
Although Dalí was best known for his surrealist art and eccentricities - including his mustache, which we will talk about - there is so much more to discover.
In this episode of Filling the Sink, we delve into the life and art of Salvador Dalí.
From his formative years studying Fine Arts in Madrid, to his contributions to Surrealism after going to Paris, to his experimental years in the United States, before returning and settling down in northern Catalonia and creating his own legacy.
Oriol Escudé Macià joins Lea Beliaeva Bander to expand on several of the late surrealist’s motifs, from melting clocks to eerie mountain landscapes.
We will also recount some anecdotes from Dalí’s life, such as his protest against his art teachers or his deep wounding by the Austrian psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud after their first meeting.
We talk to art historian Mariona Seguranyes about Gala Dalí and her significant role in the artist’s life.
And we take listeners inside Salvador and Gala’s house in Port Lligat, as well as their Theatre-Museum in Figueres, where Oriol has a surrealist experience of his own.
This week’s Catalan phrase is “per art de màgia” which means “magically”.
The Catalan election season is in full swing – once again.
On March 18th, Catalan President Pere Aragonès announced that he was dissolving the Catalan parliament and calling for a snap election on May 12th.
The news came after the government failed to secure a majority to pass the 2024 budget.
Calling for early elections in Catalonia is nothing new, as it has been 14 years since a government last served the full four-year term, and in the 21st century, the Catalans have only held two elections when they should have.
On this week’s podcast, Gerard Escaich Folch and Guifré Jordan join Lea Beliaeva Bander to make sense of the political situation and explain the reasons why this term came to an early end.
We look back at the last three years of political battles, get to know the main party candidates, and talk about the future challenges.
This week’s Catalan phrase is “déu-n’hi-do”, roughly translated as “Oh my God!” in English, a common interjection used to express surprise.
Sant Jordi or Saint George is the patron saint of Catalonia, and April 23 is the day when Catalans celebrate love, roses, romance, and also books.
This week's episode is recorded from the bookshop Backstory in the heart of Barcelona.
We explain what makes this day special and why people give each other roses and books. We learn about the legend of Sant Jordi and how this day became World Book Day promoted by UNESCO in 1995.
We meet international authors Monika Zgustová, Hernan Díaz, and Sohn Won-pyung, talk to people on the streets of the Catalan capital, and hear from Vicki, co-owner of the English bookstore Hibernian as well as Kate and Abby, who opened Backstory back in February of 2024.
Lea Beliaeva Bander is joined by the entire Catalan News team, Gerard Escaich Folc, Oriol Escudé Macià, Lorcan Doherty, Cillian Shields, and Ona Van Dyck Colomer.
The Catalan phrase of the week is the Sant Jordi appropriate “Hi havia una vegada”, which means “Once upon a time”.
As the weather gets warmer, more and more people will want to go to the beach. But lately, some of the beaches in Catalonia have looked quite different.
In some places, the beaches look like they have been swallowed by the sea. The reason for this is the recent storm Nelson, which hit the Catalan coast during this past Easter. Nelson caused an unprecedented loss of sand on some of Catalonia’s beaches, in some cases reducing the width of the beach by 25 meters.
However, this phenomenon is not new and is becoming more and more frequent due to climate change.
Recent data show that two-thirds of the Catalan coastline has receded in the last seven decades.
At the same time, other beaches have grown as a result of the construction of more ports or the expansion of beaches.
Cillian Shields joins Lea Beliaeva Bander to talk about the state of Catalonia’s beaches and coastline.
We talk to Gonzalo Simarro, a beach scientist at the Marine Sciences Institute, about the impact of storms on Catalan beaches. We also hear from Jordi Pinyol of the Geological and Cartographic Institute of Catalonia, who explains how the Catalan coastline is evolving.
On a lighter note, we also share beach recommendations, from the rocky and picturesque up on Costa Brava, to the fun Barcelona beaches, or the family-friendly Costa Daurada, as well as the windy Terres de l’Ebre.
The Catalan phrase of the week is “Hi ha mar de fons,” which literally means “there is a groundswell,” and is an expression used to express that there is tension or bad vibes.
Barcelona’s take on fashion week is the bi-annual event 080 Barcelona Fashion, which this season runs from April 9 to April 12.
The event has been held at the Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site since 2013, and during the 33rd edition celebrated this week, a mix of 24 emerging designers and established brands presented their idea of what should be in vogue in 2024.
Over the years, 080 Barcelona Fashion has gone from being a locally focused event to catching the eye of the international fashion world, thanks to its unique mix of Catalan textile tradition, sustainability, and diversity.
In this episode, designers Eva Dimas of Simorra and Alejandra Valero of Hoss Intropia unveil their latest collections, and we also hear from 080 Barcelona Fashion’s project manager Marta Coca, who explains how the event has evolved.
Lorcan Doherty joins Lea Beliaeva Bander to talk about all things fashion.
This week’s Catalan phrase is 'passat de moda', which means 'out of fashion'.
The number of indoor climbing gyms in Catalonia has multiplied by four in just ten years, making climbing a lifestyle phenomenon and another way of connecting with people.
At the same time, the mountainous landscapes of Catalonia have become some of the most visited destinations for outdoor climbing.
In this episode, Oriol Escudé Macià joins Lea Beliaeva Bander to chat about the Catalan bouldering boom, and we also discuss whether it’s a sport that is accessible to all.
We visit Sharma Climbing, the largest climbing gym in Spain, owned by American climber Chris Sharma, where climbers explain why they took up the sport.
We also talk to Quim Hernández, the climbing manager of the Catalan Mountain Sports Federation about the growing popularity of climbing and how it is being received.
The Catalan phrase of the week is “Fer una muntanya d’una gra de sorra” which means to blow something out of proportion, similar to the English expression “to make a mountain out of a molehill.”
This year marks the 120th anniversary of the opening of the notorious La Model prison, located in the Eixample district of Barcelona.
The facility closed in 2017 and has since become a site for Catalan historic memory, open to the public. Behind its high beige walls lies the history of a prison that sought to be exemplary, but during the Franco dictatorship held thousands of political prisoners, many of whom were tortured or executed.
Cillian Shields joins Lea Beliaeva Bander to talk about the agonizing history of La Model and its impending transformation into a place of life.
We speak with Isabel Centeno, historian and tour guide at La Model, and we hear from Gemma and Carme Puig Antich, the sisters of Salvador Puig Antich, the last political prisoner to be executed at La Model, and their lawyers, Maria Servini and Magda Oranich.
The Catalan phrase of the week is “pagar justos per pecadors”, in English to pay for the sins of others.
In January 2024, the Catalan government joined other European countries in the fight to regulate the use of mobile phones by young children.
A new set of regulations restricting the use of mobile phones in Catalan primary or secondary schools starting from the 2024/2025 academic year saw the light of day.
But the idea behind the regulations didn’t come from the Catalan politicians themselves, but from the parent initiative Adolescència Lliure de Mòbil, A Phone-free Adolescence, which started in the Barcelona neighborhood of Poblenou in November 2023, and soon spread to other parts of the Catalan capital, then the rest of Catalonia, and then all of Spain.
Parents and experts alike are concerned that the early use of cell phones and the easy access to social media could affect children’s mental health and cognitive development.
The new rules will mean that the use of mobile phones will be completely banned for school children in Catalan public primary schools, while older children in secondary school will still be able use them in certain circumstances, with permission of teachers.
Lea Beliaeva Bander is joined by reporter Oriol Escudé Macià to talk about what the new regulations mean and why some experts are discouraging children from using smartphones.
We will hear from Lluna Porta, one of the spokespeople for Adolescència Lliure de Mòbil about how the group got started.
Jose Ramon Ubieto, a clinical psychologist and author of ¿Adictos o amantes? offers advice on how to reduce phone time for children and adults alike.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'bufar i fer ampolles'. Literally, 'to blow and make bottles', it's used to express something that’s easy to do, similar to the English phrase “piece of cake”.
Society of the Snow and Robot Dreams miss out on coveted Academy Awards, but plenty of fun is had along the way.
In Los Angeles, Natàlia Segura catches up with the nominees – Barcelona filmmaker JA Bayona, director of Society of the Snow, Montse Ribé and David Martí, nominated in the Best Makeup and Hairstyling category for their work on the same film, and Pablo Berger, director of Catalan production Robot Dreams, nominated for Best Animated Feature.
On the big night itself, Natàlia heads to an Oscars party at the Teleferic Barcelona in LA, meets a survivor from the Uruguayan plane crash in 1972 that inspired Society of the Snow, and fills in a weary-eyed Cillian Shields back in Barcelona.
The morning after the night before, Lorcan Doherty joins Lea Beliaeva Bander to chat about Catalonia's Oscars history and the two nominated films.
Robot Dreams' lead character designer, Daniel Fernández Casas, explains the secret of the movie's success.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'somiar truites'. Literally, 'to dream omelettes', it means to dream big, perhaps unrealistically so!
March 8 is International Women's Day. To mark the occasion, Filling the Sink pays homage to ten women who changed Catalonia.
Writer Caterina Albert (aka Victor Català), educator Francesca Bonnemaison, anarcho-syndicalist Teresa Claramunt, trans activist Silvia Reyes, flamenco dancer Carmen Amaya, operatic soprano Montserrat Caballé, singer and songwriter Rosalía, chef Carme Ruscalleda, middle-distance runner Carmen Valero, and footballer Alexia Putellas.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'Visca la lluita feminista' – 'Long live the feminist struggle'. Presented by Lorcan Doherty with Lea Beliaeva Bander.
The world's biggest mobile technology fair is taking place in Barcelona once again, but Mobile World Congress goes way beyond phones. MWC 2024 showcases all kinds of emerging technology from tech giants such as Samsung, Google, Huawei and Microsoft, with artificial intelligence the buzzword on everyone's lips.
Lorcan Doherty chats AI with Mobileum founder Avnish Chauhan, Dell's beer guy (and business development manager) Warren Jackson, and IMA CEO Eyal Reshef.
Lea Beliaeva Bander talks to two Catalan companies at 4YFN (Four Years from Now), the startup space at MWC: Francesco Pititto, CEO of Envjoy Nature, and Dhespina Mena from WindowSight.
Oriol Escudé Macià checks out one of this year's top attractions, Alef Aeronautics' flying car prototype, as well as other aviation innovations – SK Telecom's urban air mobility (UAM) aircraft, an AI-assisted drone used by Catalonia's Mossos d'Esquadra police, and Aalto's High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS).
Cillian Shields heads to a session called 'Quantum Industry: A Bird's-Eye View' to discover more about this cutting-edge technology and how it is evolving in 2024.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'A camí llarg, passa curta', which means 'On a long path, short steps'.
All across Europe, farmers are protesting, stopping traffic with their tractors to sound the alarm on what many feel is the slow death of the agricultural sector.
On February 6, Catalan farmers drove their tractors out of the fields, draped them with slogans such as “La nostra fi, la vostra fam”, or “Our end, your hunger” and marched slowly but determinedly toward Barcelona in one of the largest coordinated protests in years.
We hear from 12 farmers who took part in the protests about the disappointments, demands, and dreams of a sector that feels neglected as it deals with everything from environmental regulations to rising production costs, excessive red tape, and a lack of drought relief, just to mention a few.
Lea Beliaeva Bander is joined by Oriol Escudé Macià, who sheds light on the farmers' protests and explains what lies ahead.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'picar pedra'. Literally, 'to crush stone', it means to work hard at something without necessarily achieving a gain in the end.
Viquipèdia, the Catalan version of the free, collaborative online encyclopedia, is a real success story, with almost 750,000 articles and over 1,000 active editors.
Wikipedians Xavier Dengra and Àlex Hinojo explain what drives them to volunteer their free time and contribute their knowledge to the project.
Lea Beliaeva chats to Núria Ribas, president of Amical Wikipedia, and Carme Fenoll, a wikipedian and librarian, about gender bias on the website and how Viquipèdia is trying to increase diversity, in terms of contributors and content.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'ser un setciències'. Literally, 'to be a seven-sciences', it means 'to be a know-it-all'.
Presented by Lorcan Doherty.
Record stores and listening bars are popping up everywhere in Barcelona. Vinyl sales in Catalonia surpassed CD sales in 2023 for the first time since the 1980s. Why has this old, impractical way of listening to music gained popularity in a time when everyone can access whatever music they want on their phones?
Lorcan Doherty joins Lea Beliaeva Bander to chat about the vinyl revival. Carlos from Surco and Marc from Wah Wah explain how it is affecting two of the city's older record stores. David Ayllón from the cultural association Salvadiscos talks about the social side of sharing music.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'com un disc ratllat'. Literally, 'like a scratched record', it's used like the English phrase 'like a broken record'.
Catalonia's number one football team has always been FC Barcelona, until now!
Tiny Girona FC are making it big, battling it out at the top of La Liga in just their fourth season ever in Spain's top division.
Cillian Shields joins Lorcan Doherty to chat about the players and manager making the miracles happen.
Pepe Sierra, a Girona fanatic and president of the federation of Girona supporters' clubs, and Eduard Solà, a journalist at Catalunya Ràdio who has covered Girona for many years, talk about what the club and this season means to them.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'deixar-hi la pell' – you could say Girona FC are playing out of their skin.
Filling the Sink turns the spotlight on education after Catalonia finished almost bottom of the class in Spain in the latest PISA international tests, sat by students around the world in reading, maths, and science.
The results have raised questions for Catalan schools: what's behind the decline, and what can be done about it? Have changes in education gone too far, or not far enough?
Oriol Escudé joins Lorcan Doherty to discuss the issues and hear the views of Mònica Nadal, research director of the Fundació Bofill, Xavier Massó, a secondary school teacher and general secretary of the Professors de Secundària union, and Toni Pedragosa, a secondary school teacher and member of the Clam Educatiu platform.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'Fer mans i mànigues'. It means to make a big effort to achieve something.
The Museum of Forbidden Art is the first of its kind in the world, displaying art pieces that were censored or banned at some point in history and in various different countries. Whether the reason was political, social or religious, these works have now found a new home in Barcelona.
In this episode, we’ll hear from the people behind the museum and look back at the history of censorship under Francisco Franco's dictatorship.
The Catalan phrase of the week is: "Caure la cara de vergonya," which translates to "Shame on you."
Presented by Lucía Benavides with Lea Beliaeva and Oriol Escudé.
Romani is the main language of the Roma community, and one of the biggest minority languages in Europe - estimated to be spoken by millions of people. But because the Roma people have been persecuted for centuries, their language and culture have suffered tremendously.
In this episode, we're going to talk about the origins of the Romani language and where it stands today. We're also going to hear from two Roma activists, who are spreading awareness about their history, culture and language.
The phrase of the week is in Romani: "Ma krisaren i pustik Katar o ucharni," which translates to "Don't judge a book by its cover."
Presented by Lucía Benavides with Lea Beliaeva.
Reporter Lorcan Doherty joins Lucía Benavides to take a look back at this year's top Catalan news. There were local and national elections, a new amnesty law for Catalan pro-independence leaders, the ongoing drought that's left reservoirs at 18 percent full.
And there were also big-name celebrity break-ups and cultural heritage celebrations across the territory.
The Catalan phrase of the week is: "Fer campana," which translates literally to "Do a bell," and is used when referring to skipping school or work.
Architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner is best known for designing Barcelona’s famous Palau de la Música Catalana and the Sant Pau Hospital, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites. But he was also a renowned professor, with big-name students like Antoni Gaudí, and a key figure in Catalan politics. This week marks a hundred years since his death on December 27, 1923.
The Catalan phrase of the week is: "Alt com un Sant Pau," which translates literally to "Tall like Saint Paul," and is used when referring to a very tall person.
Presented by Lucía Benavides with Lea Beliaeva.
This week marks 100 years since the birth of one of Catalonia's most renowned artists of the 20th century: Antoni Tàpies. He's best known for his abstract art and avant-garde works, which experimented with materials such as wood, marble dust, chairs and socks. In this episode, we’ll hear from museum curators on why Tàpies’ work is still relevant today and get an intimate look into the artist’s home life from Tàpies’ very own son.
The Catalan quote of the week was said by Antoni Tàpies in 1990: "My illusion is to have something to transmit. If I can't change the world, at least I want to change the way people look at it."
Presented by Lucía Benavides with Cillian Shields.
Catalonia is experiencing the worst drought on record, with reservoirs as low as 18 percent and local governments preparing for drastic measures – such as shipping in fresh water. And this is due, in large part, to climate change. For years, the territory has been getting hotter and drier weather, leading to drained reservoirs, wildfires and lost harvests. In this episode, we’ll talk to an environmental organization about what more should be done and to a farmer’s union on how the agriculture industry is affected.
The Catalan phrase of the week is: "El peix que es mossega la cua," which translates literally to "The fish that bites its own tail," and is used when talking about a vicious cycle.
Presented by Lucía Benavides with Lea Beliaeva and Oriol Escudé.
Catalonia has the most Michelin stars in all of Spain - with a whopping 70 in all. The last three stars were added just this week, at a gala held in Barcelona to announce the restaurants that would be included in the 2024 Michelin Guide to Spain. One of them is a Barcelona joint, Disfrutar, that was given its third star – the highest achievement in the guide’s ranking.
In this episode, we’ll talk about Catalonia’s world-renowned cuisine and visit a restaurant in Igualada, Somiatruites, that has a Green Michelin star for its focus on sustainability.
The Catalan phrase of the week is: "Descobrir la sopa d’all," which translates literally to "Discover garlic soup," and is used when someone claims to do something new but is actually recycling an old idea.
Presented by Lucía Benavides with Lorcan Doherty.
These days, going grocery shopping is making more of a dent in our wallets than usual. The cost of many basic food products – including olive oil, milk and eggs – has risen more than thirty percent in just two years. That’s due to several factors; among them, the ongoing inflation across much of Europe. But shoppers aren’t the only ones affected by price increases – farmers are just as fazed.
In this episode, we’ll hear from the Catalan Farmers Union and talk to Barcelona residents about how they’ve changed their shopping habits.
The Catalan phrase of the week is: "Mitja figa, mig raïm," which translates literally to "half fig, half grape," and is used when someone is undecided.
Presented by Lucía Benavides with Oriol Escudé and Lea Beliaeva.
Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez was sworn in as prime minister on Friday, bringing an end to a four-month long saga of inconclusive results from the July elections. The new coalition government with left-wing Sumar was made possible by the support of smaller parties like Catalan pro-independence Esquerra Republicana and Junts, securing Sánchez a total of 179 votes in the 350-member chamber. But the re-election comes with a controversial amnesty deal that would benefit those involved in the Catalan pro-independence push of the last decade, including exiled political leaders.
The Catalan phrase of the week is: "Tarda d’hora," which means “sooner or later.”
Presented by Lucía Benavides with Gerard Escaich Folch.
Catalonia has reached a new population record of 8 million residents. The growth has come quicker than ever before - jumping by 1 million inhabitants in just 17 years. And that’s despite having some of the lowest fertility rates in the world. So, how does the math add up? Well, there are two main factors at play: people are living longer and there are more foreign-born residents.
In this episode, we’ll get reactions from a range of people on the street and talk to Albert Esteve, director of the Center for Demographic Studies.
The Catalan phrase of the week is: "Entre poc i massa," which translates literally to "between a little and too much," and is used when someone exaggerates.
Presented by Lucía Benavides with Lorcan Doherty, Oriol Escudé and Guifré Jordan.
There are around 1.6 million foreign-born residents in Catalonia, almost 400,000 of whom live in Barcelona. They come from all over the world: Pakistan, China, Venezuela, Senegal, Romania. But the stats don’t tell us the full story. Why did they come here? Are they adapting to life in Catalonia? Do they feel at home or completely out of place?
In this episode, we’ll hear from a number of migrants who spoke to us at the Barcelona International Community Day and talk to cross-cultural management professor Marina Ruiz Tada.
Presented by Lucía Benavides with Gerard Escaich Folch and Cillian Shields.
Barcelona has one of the lowest subsidy rates for public housing in all of Europe: only 1.7% of rental properties are designated for social housing. Compared to other EU countries, where the average rate is 18%, the Catalan capital's situation looks pretty grim. In this episode, we’ll learn about one of the first social housing projects in Barcelona, the cases barates of the Bon Pastor neighborhood, and talk to grassroots activists from the Platform for Mortgage Victims to understand what can be done today. The Catalan phrase of the week is "com a casa no hi ha res," which translates to "there's no place like home." Presented by Lucía Benavides with Lea Beliaeva and Lorcan Doherty.
This month marks what would have been Catalan biochemist Joan Oró’s 100th birthday. His ground-breaking research on the origin of life granted him fame in the 1950s, leading to important collaborations with NASA on the possibility of life on other planets. In this episode, we take a trip back through his extraordinary life to learn about his contributions to science and his investment in academic organizations in Catalonia. Presented by Lucía Benavides with Cillian Shields.
Many of you may have heard the term “Instagrammable,” which refers to places that are so beautiful or unique, they’d make for a perfect Instagram photo. As a result, these spots sometimes become famous on social media, drawing hundreds or thousands of travelers - who mostly just want to take a photo there. And Barcelona is no exception. In this episode, we will visit churrerías, bakeries, food markets and hills with panoramic views. Presented by Lucía Benavides with Emma Monrós and Lea Beliaeva.
As of September 19, Spanish MPs can address Congress in Catalan for the first time ever - as well as Basque and Galician. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez agreed to pro-independence parties’ demands to grant these three languages official parliamentary status. Some see it as a move towards a more plural and multilingual Spain. The next step is the European Union - where Catalan could become the 25th official language there.
New animal welfare legislation comes into effect across Spain with increased fines for abuse and new obligations for pet owners, but it hasn’t been without controversy.
An exemption for hunting dogs divided public opinion and the coalition government, while bullfighting continues to enjoy protected legal status as "cultural heritage."
Carlos Sánchez from pro-hunting organization Artemisan Foundation and Brooke Spurling from animal rights group AnimaNaturalis share their thoughts on the new law.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'buscar tres peus al gat'. Literally, 'to look for three feet on the cat', it means to make something unnecessarily complicated.
Presented by Lorcan Doherty with Cillian Shields.
As the real-life case of the murder of a Barcelona police officer is given the Netflix treatment, Filling the Sink looks at true crime stories in Catalonia.
Actors Úrsula Corberó and Quim Gutiérrez from eight-part dramatization 'Burning Body' discuss how they blend fiction and reality.
Anna Punsí, content director at True Crime Factory explains the appeal and success of 'Crims', Catalonia's favorite true crime podcast and TV series.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'la realitat supera la ficció' – 'life is stranger than fiction'.
Presented by Lorcan Doherty with Emma Monrós and Lea Beliaeva.
Not your typical Sunday regatta – think Formula 1 on water – the America's Cup is coming to Barcelona.
Cillian Shields chats to event CEO Grant Dalton of defending champions Emirates Team New Zealand.
Enrico Voltolini and Francesco Bruni from Italy's Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team and Stephan Kandler and Quentin Delapierre from France's Orient Express team tell Emma Monrós how their preparations are going.
Gerard Escaich Folch joins Cillian to sample the atmosphere at the first preliminary regatta in Vilanova i la Geltrú.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'amb bona mar tothom és mariner' – 'in fair seas everyone is a sailor'.
Presented by Lorcan Doherty.
Filling the Sink takes the pulse of the political situation ahead of Catalonia’s National Day, La Diada, a big focal point for the independence camp.
Exiled former president Carles Puigdemont and his party Junts hold the balance of power after July's inconclusive general election in Spain – could an amnesty or referendum be on the cards?
Expert analysis from Marc Guinjoan, associate professor at the Open University of Catalonia.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'ser un corcó' – to be a pain in the ass!
Presented by Lorcan Doherty with Gerard Escaich Folch.
What is behind Catalonia's falling birth rate and is it a cause for concern?
Interviews with Antonio López-Gay from Barcelona's Centre for Demographic Studies and Dr Ximena Justo from Barcelona IVF.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'donar a llum.' Literally 'to give light,' it means to give birth.
Presented by Lorcan Doherty with Emma Monrós and Cillian Shields.
As Catalonia hosts the first four stages of La Vuelta 2023, Filling the Sink visits Girona to discover what makes the area so perfect for cycling.
Cillian Shields chats to Pro Cycling Outlet's Dave Walsh, Eat Sleep Cycle's Lee Comerford, cyclist-cum-coffee shop owner Christian Meier, and Latifa Al-Yassin and Noura Al-Ameeri, two members of the Kuwaiti national team.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'anar a pinyó fix.' Literally 'to go by fixed-gear [bike],' it can be used to describe someone who is inflexible.
Presented by Lorcan Doherty.
Success stories from young Catalan entrepreneurs who started their own businesses from scratch.
With Bruno Casanovas of fashion label Nude Project, Carla Gómez of microelectronic soldering company The Ker, Nora Vallcorba of Nora Real Food, and Oriol Aldomà of Talkual, who deliver imperfect fruit and veg to households across Spain.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'qui no s'arrisca, no pisca,' similar to 'you gotta risk it to get the biscuit' in English.
Presented by Lorcan Doherty with Gerard Escaich Folch.
Barcelona’s image today is one of a modern, European city, but within living memory a very different Barcelona existed, a forgotten city of shanty towns known as barraques.
Cristina Tomàs White joins Lorcan Doherty to look at the hidden history of places like Somorrostro. Today, a popular beach in Barceloneta, it was once home to up to 15,000 people living in shacks and huts built on sand.
TV3 journalist and documentary maker Alonso Carnicer talks about the making of his 2010 film, 'Barraques. La ciutat oblidada' (Shanty towns – The Forgotten City).
This week's Catalan phrase is 'veure-ho tot negre'. Literally, 'to see everything black', it means to see lots of difficulties, to despair.
Salvador Seguí, known as El noi del sucre, The Sugar Boy, was a key figure in Catalonia's impassioned, revolutionary and deadly workers' movement in the early 20th century.
100 years on from his death – he was shot dead aged just 35 – an exhibition in Barcelona's Palau Robert remembers this larger-than-life character’s contribution to Catalan society and to the worldwide fight for better working conditions.
Cillian Shields chats to exhibition curator Sergi Martín and joins Lorcan Doherty to discuss the life and times of the anarcho-syndicalist who helped bring about the 40-hour working week.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'de sucre'. Literally '(made) of sugar', it is used to describe someone delicate or fragile.
Home to architectural masterpieces, luxury brands and very expensive flats, Passeig de Gràcia is celebrating 200 years.
Emma Monrós and Cillian Shields join Lorcan Doherty to look at the fascinating history of this street, a place to walk for walking's sake, shaped by feuding families trying to outdo one another by building ever-grander homes.
Eva Pomares guides us around one of them, Palau Robert, a former private mansion now owned by the Catalan government and converted into a space for concerts and exhibitions.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'escampar la boira'. Literally 'clear the fog', it's used to tell someone to go away.
As Barcelona celebrates Pride, Cristina Tomàs White and Kate Naessens join Lorcan Doherty to chat about the history of gay and trans rights in Catalonia, from the oppression of the Franco regime to this year's so-called 'trans law'.
Albert Carrasco from the Observatory Against Homophobia explains some of the discrimination still faced by the LGBTQI+ community today.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'viu i deixa viure' – live and let live.
On July 23, Spain goes to the polls again, this time for a snap general election.
Guifré Jordan joins Lorcan Doherty to chat about what the polls say, the potential coalitions, who might end up in La Moncloa and what impact the far-right in government could have on Catalonia.
Emma Monrós and Gerard Escaich Folch look back on the last term.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'tocar el dos.' Literally 'to touch the two,' it means to leave or to flee.
Buckle up! Filling the Sink goes on a roller coaster ride through Catalonia’s theme parks and water parks.
We venture into ‘Uncharted’ territory at PortAventura, checking out the park's new dark ride, based on the hit video game and movie of the same name.
Plus, a guide to various parks, past and present, and a look at how some water parks are coping with the ongoing drought.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'fer dentetes.' Literally 'making small teeth,' it means to make someone envious.
Presented by Lorcan Doherty with Kate Naessens and Gerard Esciach Folch
Bona revetlla! Saint John’s Eve, June 23, is a noisy, all-night affair of food and drink, music and dancing, fireworks and bonfires.
Emma Monrós and Guifré Jordan join Lorcan Doherty to chat about the magic of the shortest night of the year (almost!) – midnight swimming, watching the sunrise, jumping over bonfires, eating coques, drinking cava and setting off firecrackers.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'posar més llenya al foc' – to put more wood on the fire.
Catalonia is one of the world’s water polo hotspots. Catalan clubs are among the top teams in Europe and dominate the Spanish league.
Atlètic-Barceloneta's Felipe Perrone, four-time Olympian and captain of the Spanish national team, chats to Gerard Escaich Folch about how Barcelona became a mecca for the sport and the recent successes of his club and Spain's men's and women's teams.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'anar peix.' Literally 'to go fish,' it means to be unprepared for something.
Presented by Lorcan Doherty.
The most comprehensive investigation into primate genomes, recently published, shed new light on features of primate evolution, human disease and biodiversity conservation.
Filling the Sink chats to some of the researchers in Catalonia that played their part in this groundbreaking international study: Tomàs Marquès-Bonet from the Institute of Evolutionary Biology at Pompeu Fabra University, and Ivo Gut, director of CNAG, the National Center for Genomic Analysis.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'fer el mico.' Literally, 'to do the monkey,' it means to act silly, horse around, monkey around.
Presented by Lorcan Doherty with Cristina Tomàs White, Kate Naessens and Guifré Jordan.
Festival season kicks off in Catalonia with the biggest of the lot, Primavera Sound.
Gerard Escaich Folch heads to Parc del Fòrum and talks to music lovers attending from around the world.
Up-and-coming Catalan artist Ven'nus performs live and explains how writing songs is like music therapy for her.
Cillian Shields and Alan Ruiz Terol join Lorcan Doherty for a rundown of the big concerts and festivals to look out for this summer.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'sobre gustos no hi ha res escrit,' or, 'there is nothing written about tastes.'
Guifré Jordan joins Lorcan Doherty for analysis of the local election results.
The Socialists surge to top spot in Catalonia but are edged out in Barcelona by former mayor Xavier Trias, while Ada Colau slips to third.
The People's Party double their vote share and far-right Vox make breakthroughs across Catalonia.
This week's Catalan phrase is "estar amb l'ai al cor." Literally, "to be with the "oh" in your heart," it means to have your heart in your mouth or to be holding your breath.
Barcelona is Europe's busiest cruise port, with around 800 cruise ships carrying more than 3 million passengers a year.
Cillian Shields joins Lorcan Doherty to discuss the cruise industry's economic impact, environmental issues and its role in the debate on tourism.
Featuring contributions from Alfredo Serrano of Cruise Lines International Association, Marta Ribera of the Observatory Desk NGO, Misael Alerm of Stop Cruises Tarragona and Fernando Pacheco of MSC Cruises.
This week's Catalan phrase is "arribar a bon port." Literally, "to reach a good port," it's used when something ends well.
Catalonia goes to the polls on Sunday, May 28, with voters in almost 1,000 municipalities set to choose the new makeup of their city and town councils and ultimately their new mayor.
Cristina Tomàs White and Guifré Jordan join Lorcan Doherty to look at some of the most hotly contested council battles, including an unprecedented four-horse race for mayor in Barcelona.
This week's Catalan phrase is "estar com gat i gos," which means "to fight like cats and dogs."
Bruce Springsteen has legions of fans all around the world but 'The Boss' has an undoubted special connection with Barcelona and its people.
Filling the Sink captures the atmosphere at the Olympic Stadium before, during and after the gig as Springsteen and the E Street Band kick off their European tour.
Music journalist Jordi Bianciotto and concert promoter Gay Mercader recall the American rocker's first concert in Barcelona in 1981 and discuss the bond between Bruce and his fans in Catalonia.
This week's Catalan phrase is "portar la veu cantant." Literally, "to bring your singing voice," it means to control, to dominate, or, like Bruce, to be the boss.
Presented by Lorcan Doherty with Gerard Escaich Folch.
FC Barcelona look set to win their first league title since 2019 but off the pitch the club has been engulfed by a scandal over payments to a former refereeing official. A court investigation into the so-called Negreira affair began in March, but club president Joan Laporta believes Barça is a victim of a smear campaign. Cillian Shields joins Lorcan Doherty to dissect the ins and outs of the case and all the furore surrounding it. This week's Catalan phrase is "no treure'n l'aigua clara." It means "to not see things clearly," or "to not clear things up."
To mark the Sant Jordi weekend, Filling the Sink explores some of Catalonia's beautiful libraries and the hidden gems in the collections within.
Guifré Jordan visits Catalonia's very own 'Library of Alexandria', the Biblioteca de Catalunya, and discovers its secrets with library director Eugènia Serra.
Gerard Escaich Folch chats to Josep Brunet at the oldest public library in Barcelona, Biblioteca Pública Arús, and learns about the freemason and anarchist who founded it.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'ser com un llibre obert' – 'to be like an open book'.
Presented by Lorcan Doherty.
The Barcelona-based award-winning Grangel Studio has worked on some of the biggest animated feature films of the last decades, from The Prince of Egypt and Madagascar to Kung Fu Panda and the Oscar-winning Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio.
Character designer Carlos Grangel chats to Gerard Escaich Folch about collaborating with top Hollywood directors, never working on sequels, and speaking Spanglish to Steven Spielberg.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'tenir la paella pel mànec'. Literally 'to have the pan by the handle', it means to be in control, to run the show.
Presented by Lorcan Doherty.
Filling the Sink examines the legacy of Pablo Picasso on the 50th anniversary of his death. Cristina Tomàs White and Cillian Shields join Lorcan Doherty to chat about the artist's formative years in Catalonia. Maria Choya shows us around Barcelona's Picasso Museum. Artist María Llopis discusses Picasso's toxic relationships with women. This week's Catalan phrase is "quatre gats." Literally "four cats," it means "only a few people."
85 years on from the Bombing of Barcelona, a new photography exhibition aims to shine a light on the air raid shelters that saved so many lives during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). Cristina Tomàs White visits one of the bunkers and meets Manel Bachs, a 90-year- old who still remembers fleeing underground when the air raid sirens warned of Franco’s Nationalist forces approaching along with their Nazi German and fascist Italian allies. Gerard Escaich Folch gets a surprise when he talks to Ana Sánchez, the photographer behind the exhibition '1,322 Barcelona air raid shelters' at La Model prison. This week's Catalan phrase is "fer una passa en fals." It means to make a mistake or a false move. Presented by Lorcan Doherty.
Nestled high in the Pyrenees lies a unique European experiment – Cerdanya Hospital, jointly financed and governed by Catalonia and France, and caring for patients on both sides of the border.
Managing director Xavier Conill explains how the hospital operates and the particular challenges it faces, from registering births and deaths in the right country to attracting staff and patients from both jurisdictions.
This week's Catalan phrase is "advocat, jutge i doctor, com més lluny millor." It means "lawyer, judge and doctor, the further away, the better."
Presented by Lorcan Doherty with Gerard Escaich Folch.
On March 5, 2023, a cyberattack wreaked havoc on Hospital Clínic, one of Barcelona's leading public hospitals, causing surgery and appointments to be cancelled and forcing staff to work with pen and paper.
Marc Torrens of ESADE Business School explains how ransomware attacks like this work.
Jordi Hernández of the Autonomous University of Barcelona tells Cristina Tomàs White the lessons they learned after a data breach in 2021.
Plus the thoughts of David López, a cybersecurity expert at IPM, and Tomàs Roy, director of the Catalan Cybersecurity Agency.
This week's Catalan phrase is "jugar al gat i la rata," to play cat and mouse (or rat, literally).
Presented by Lorcan Doherty with Cillian Shields.
In January 2023 US-born Catalan woman Maria Branyas became the oldest verified living person in the world and on March 4 she celebrated her 116th birthday. To mark the occasion, Guifré Jordan revisits an interview he did with Maria in 2019.
Sam Green, an American filmmaker who recently travelled to Catalonia to record with Maria for his documentary The Oldest Person in the World, tells us why he thinks people find the subject so captivating.
This week's Catalan phrase is "és de l'any de la picor." Literally "it's from the year of the itch," it refers to a plague in Catalonia in 1471 and is used to describe something very old.
Presented by Lorcan Doherty.
Filling the Sink travels to a SIE center that helps women affected by gender-based violence to hear the story of one survivor and the thoughts of center director Susana Conesa.
Tània Verge, Catalan equality and feminism minister, explains what action the government is taking to tackle violence against women.
Lorcan Doherty is joined by Cristina Tomàs White and Guifré Jordan to discuss high-profile sexual assault cases involving footballer Dani Alves and journalist Saül Gordillo and the recent controversy over Spain's 'only yes means yes' consent law.
This week's Catalan phrase is "estar-ne fins als ovaris," which means I've had it up to my ovaries or I've had it up to here. It's a modern twist on "estar-ne fins als collons," with collons being a slang term for testicles.
One year on from Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Filling the Sink hears stories from Ukrainian refugees and Russian dissidents who have fled to Catalonia. Fashion designer Ksenia Karpenko talks about the fear of losing people back home and how she has tried to adapt and keep her brand going. Anna Vykhovanets, Tatiana Hulevets and Olena Kol explain why they chose to start working in the Costa Brava hotel where the Red Cross had sent them to stay. Dissidents Anna Shevchenko, Nikita Kazantcev, and Andrei Paniushkin describe their run-ins with the Russian authorities and why they fled to Catalonia.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'no tenir solta ni volta'. A hard one to translate literally, it is used to describe something that does not make any sense. Presented by Lorcan Doherty with Cillian Shields.
Filling the Sink travels to two coastal towns famous for their carnival shenanigans – Vilanova i la Geltrú and Sitges. Expect food fights and raucous parades! Carnival is a big deal in Catalonia – a hedonistic week of music, dance, dressing up, copious amounts of food and general revelry before Lent. Lorcan Doherty gets the lowdown from Catalan News' very own Carnival King and Queen, Gerard Escaich Folch and Cristina Tomàs White. This week's Catalan phrase is 'Per carnaval tot s'hi val' – For carnival, anything goes!
It's ski season! Wrap up warm, grab your goggles and gloves, this week Filling the Sink heads to the slopes with a guide to skiing in the Catalan Pyrenees.
But hold on, with the climate emergency and ongoing drought, does it make sense to be going?
Guifré Jordan travels to Cerdanya to hear both sides of the debate, with La Molina's Marta Viver, and Marcel Sangenís, from the Stop the Winter Olympics group.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'trencar el gel'. It means 'to break the ice', and is used just like in English.
Presented by Lorcan Doherty.
Lauded by Steven Spielberg and Guillermo del Toro, Barcelona-born J.A. Bayona is the director of movies like The Impossible, A Monster Calls and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.
On the red carpet at the 2023 Gaudí Awards, Bayona chats to Filling the Sink about the ups and downs of his career to date, and his upcoming movie, Society of the Snow.
Cillian Shields talks to two of his former teachers at ESCAC film school – Jaume Macià and Joan Marimón – to find out if the young Bayona was always destined for success.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'ser el dolent de la pel·lícula'. It means 'to be the baddy in the film', but it is used in real life too.
Presented by Lorcan Doherty with Gerard Escaich Folch.
What do Rosalía, Nike, Dua Lipa, Apple, Tame Impala and IKEA have in common? They have all had videos made for them by CANADA – a Barcelona-based production company with a knack for the weird and wonderful. Lope Serrano, Co-Founder and Creative Director, and Alba Barneda, Global Head of Production, chat about their meteoric rise from making videos for their mates to becoming one of the pop world's go-to video producers. They share anecdotes about their creative process and what to do when something goes drastically wrong. Spoiler alert - sometimes, it turns out better! This week's Catalan phrase is 'tocar de peus a terra': keep your feet on the ground. Presented by Lorcan Doherty with Gerard Escaich Folch.
George Orwell, Pablo Neruda, Gabriel García Márquez. Just some of the 20th Century's greatest writers who for a time called Catalonia home. Tadhg Prendiville from Barcelona Literary Tours takes Cillian Shields on a trip around the city. Cristina Tomàs White joins Lorcan Doherty to discuss the international poets, novelists and journalists who came to Catalonia – some during the Civil War, some fleeing dictatorships in South America, and others, simply for the adventure. This week's Catalan phrase is 'estar escrit'. Literally 'to be written', it means something is decided, set in stone. The following is a list of writers – and one influential literary agent – mentioned in the podcast.
George Orwell
Pablo Neruda
Isabel Allende
John Dos Passos
Simone Weil
Muriel Rukeyser
Colm Tóibín
Louis MacNeice
Langston Hughes
Ernest Hemingway
Martha Gellhorn
Roberto Bolaño
Gabriel García Márquez
Carmen Balcells
Manuel Vázquez Montalbán
Mario Vargas Llosa
Truman Capote
Eduardo Galeano
Cristina Peri Rossi
Cristina Rivera Garza
Mathias Énard
Denise Duncan
Guifré Jordan joins Lorcan Doherty for this guide to Catalonia's high-speed rail connections.
Cristina Tomàs White takes a trip to Paris from Barcelona with SNCF.
Romain Payet, co-founder of Midnight Trains explains why he is intent on bringing international night trains to Catalonia soon.
Adrià Ramirez, head of the PTP group lobbying for better public transport explains what improvements he would still like to see.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'deixar algú amb la mel a la boca'. Literally 'leave someone with honey in their mouth', it means to deprive someone of something pleasant that they were beginning to savor or enjoy.
Bon any nou! Guifré Jordan and Gerard Escaich Folch join Lorcan Doherty to see what 2023 has in store in Catalonia, from politics and the economy to society, culture and sport.
Catalans are set to vote in at least two elections, museums will mark significant anniversaries of Picasso, Miró and Tàpies, and FC Barcelona are to up sticks from the Camp Nou to the Olympic Stadium for a season.
We also look back at the year that was with some choice quotes that sum up 2022.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'qui dia passa, any empeny'. Literally 'who passes a day, pushes a year', it means to take a laissez-faire attitude, to leave problems for another day.
Christmas is a time of celebration, of family and friends, of giving and receiving gifts, but it can also be a very lonely and very expensive time of year. Gerard Escaich Folch and Cillian Shields join Lorcan Doherty to look at some of the ways people in Catalonia are giving back this Christmas, including a Red Cross campaign that aims to make sure that no child goes without presents. Ferran Busquets, director of the Arrels Foundation, talks about the importance of the Christmas meals his organization provides for homeless people. This week's Catalan phrase is 'Com més serem, més riurem', which means 'The more of us there are, the more we laugh', or simply, 'The more the merrier'!
Catalonia goes to the polls next May 28th but foreigners eligible to vote need to be registered much sooner.
Cristina Tomàs White gives the lowdown on who has the right to vote and how to register.
Cillian Shields chats to Pere Moradell, mayor of Torroella de Fluvià since 1979.
Maxime Van Cleven compares voting rights across Europe and beyond.
Plus a look at some of the intriguing mayoral battles across Catalonia.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'Embolica que fa fort'. Literally something like 'wrap to make strong', it means a situation is becoming more complicated.
Presented by Lorcan Doherty.
Cristina Tomàs White and Guifré Jordan join Lorcan Doherty to discuss abortion in Catalonia – what the law says, how it could change, and what the reality is like on the ground. Activists Silvia Adalvert from the Associació de Drets Sexuals i Reproductius and Selene Alberich from the Assemblea Vaga Feminista de Les Terres de l'Ebre outline improvements in access and care they would like to see, while one woman, Júlia, shares her experience of seeking an abortion in Catalonia. This week's Catalan phrase is 'no caure els anells'. Literally, 'the rings don’t drop', it is used when someone is not afraid of doing some hard work.
In the summer of 2017, Fatima Ofkir, then 18 years old, made a big mistake. The young Catalan woman was arrested in the Sultanate of Oman accused of drug trafficking. She is currently serving a life sentence in prison but desperately wants to return to her home country.
Cristina Tomàs White and Guifré Jordan join Lorcan Doherty to discuss the case, and we hear from Fatima’s mother Rosario Reyes who shares her anguish and frustration at the lack of developments.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'fer l'orni', which means to turn a blind eye.
Casa Orsola in Barcelona's Eixample neighborhood has become a symbol of the city's struggle with gentrification, as long-term renters find themselves priced out of their homes.
One resident, Basilis, explains his story, while lawyer María José Tarancón outlines the position of the building's new owners, Lioness Inversiones.
Housing rights activists Daniela Lima of the Esquerra de l'Eixample Housing Network and Enric Aragonès of the Sindicat de Llogateres tenants' union give their take.
Presented by Lorcan Doherty with Gerard Escaich Folch and Cristina Tomàs White.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'posar la mà al foc'. Literally 'to put your hand in the fire', it is used when you are very sure of something you say, like 'I swear'.
In 2019, nine Catalan pro-independence leaders were found guilty of sedition for their roles in the independence push of 2017. Now, Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez has announced that the crime of sedition will be struck from the penal code – a decision set to have a huge impact on Catalan and Spanish politics. Could those convicted politicians – subsequently pardoned but still barred from holding public office - make a return to frontline politics? And could those in exile – including former president Carles Puigdemont – be extradited, or even return voluntarily? Lorcan Doherty is joined by Gerard Escaich Folch and Cillian Shields, with analysis from Jordi Nieva, professor of procedural law at the University of Barcelona. This week's Catalan phrase is 'canviar de camisa'. Literally 'to change shirt', it means to change to change your beliefs.
Catalonia has a pig problem. Numbers of Sus scrofa, the Eurasian wild pig, have shot up in recent years and so too has the potential for conflict with humans. Cristina Tomàs White and Guifré Jordan join Lorcan Doherty to discuss the causes, effects, and possible solutions to the spiraling wild boar population. With Anna Sanitjas, head of Forest Ecosystems and Environmental Management at the Catalan government, Jaume Badia, biology PhD researcher at the University of Barcelona, and Ramon Comes, from the Unió de Pagesos farmers union. Plus, we go searching for boar in the Collserola mountains and get the thoughts of residents there. This week's Catalan phrase is 'fer més mal que un porc solt' - to do more damage than a pig on the loose.
After a decade of low inflation and low interest rates, price hikes following the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia's war in Ukraine have left many feeling the pinch. Esther Lorente, head of the OCU Consumer Organization in Catalonia, has tips on how to keep your shopping and energy bills down. Cristina Tomàs White and Gerard Escaich Folch join Lorcan Doherty to discuss inflation trends in Catalonia and beyond, and what measures are being taken to bring rising prices under control. Plus, stallholders at Sants Market in Barcelona on how they and their customers are dealing with inflation. This week's Catalan phrase is 'tirat de preu', used to describe something that is cheap.
Less paella and sangria and more esqueixada and escalivada – Lorcan Doherty is joined by Cillian Shields and Gerard Escaich Folch to chat about traditional Catalan food. Attendees at Barcelona International Community Day tells us their favorite Catalan dishes. Gerard and Maxime Van Cleven visit Sants Market in Barcelona and talk to stallholders about the kinds of food that locals and visitors buy. This week's Catalan phrase is 'pa sucat amb oli'. Literally bread soaked in oil, it is used to describe something of low quality or little value.
Flamboyant drinks and clandestine bars, Barcelona’s cocktail scene has stepped up its game, overthrowing London and New York at the World's 50 Best Bars ranking.
Filling the Sink is celebrating its 100th episode with cocktails! Alejandra Angulo Alonso is joined by Catalan News journalists Cillian Shields and Gerard Escaich Folch to talk about the hottest creative bars in Barcelona that made it to the World's 50 Best Bars ranking, celebrated this month for the first time in the Catalan capital instead of London.
Join us as we visit the bars featured in the top ten of the list for 2022: Paradiso, first place, Sips in third spot, and Two Schmucks, at number seven. We hear from Gianluca Basso, Paradiso’s manager; Marc Alvarez, Sips’s co-owner; and Pom Modeste, Two Schmucks’ manager.
We also have a little surprise at the end of the podcast to mark our 100th show! Cheers!
Almost a decade of collaboration among the main pro-independence parties ended on October 7 when members of Junts per Catalunya voted to exit the coalition. After years of inspiring huge mobilizations, how did the independence movement get here, and what comes next?
Alejandra Angulo Alonso is joined by Catalan News editor Guifré Jordan to talk about the new single-party government in Catalonia formed by the left-wing, pro-independence Esquerra Republicana, governing solo with support from just 33 seats of the total 135 in the Catalan parliament.
We also hear from Doctor of political science at UAB, Ernesto Pascual, on the future challenges of Aragonès’s administration as well as a report from our correspondent Cillian Shields about the slow divorce between the main Catalan pro-independence parties during this term.
This week's Catalan phrase is ‘Embolica que fa fort’ which means “things are getting even more difficult.”
As Europe faces an uncertain winter amid the energy crisis provoked by the war in Ukraine, Catalan, Spanish and German officials are looking at the MidCat project, an unfinished pipeline that would bring gas from Africa to Europe via Catalonia, as a potential solution to ease the continent's dependency on Russian imports. Alejandra Angulo Alonso is joined by Cillian Shields and Gerard Escaich Folch to talk about this ambitious billion-euro pipeline project that faces political and social challenges before it can be completed. We also hear from Joan Puerta, vice president of Catalonia's Engineers Association's energy committee, and Carol Coll, activist from the environmental group Plataforma Resposta al MidCat. This week's Catalan phrase is ‘a mig gas’, which means “not giving 100% of your efforts to reach a goal.”
October 1, 2017 was a day like no other in Catalonia. An independence referendum took palace despite Spain's ban and its police cracking down on voters. How did events unfold and how much of a game changer was the vote for the independence movement and for Catalan politics? Alejandra Angulo Alonso is joined by Guifré Jordan to talk about 2017 Catalonia's referendum on independence from Spain and its impact five years later, including the movement currently finding itself in limbo. Two experts on political science join the discussion: Toni Rodon, assistant professor at Barcelona’s Universitat Pompeu Fabra and fellow at the London School of Economics in London; and Dani Cetrà, post-doctoral researcher at the University of Barcelona and former research fellow at the University of Edinburgh. We also hear reports from Cillian Shields: a timeline of the day, and word from all parties in the current parliament, both for and against independence, on what they thought off the vote and what it means in today's political context. This week's Catalan phrase is ‘Això va a missa’ which means “this decision is final.”
Known as “the Barcelona patient”, a 75 year-old-woman who has been off antiretrovirals for 15 years made headlines worldwide this summer when her case was presented at the 24th International AIDS Conference in Montreal, Canada. Alejandra Angulo Alonso is joined by Cristina Tomàs White and Gerard Escaich Folch to talk about the extraordinary Barcelona patient as well as HIV research in Catalonia. We also speak with Dr. Josep Mallolas, the head of Hospital Clínic’s HIV-AIDS unit and a member of the research team behind this unique case that could eventually lead to a functional cure for others too. This week's Catalan phrase is ‘No tirar la tovallola’, which means “Not giving up.”
Heavy rain and occasional drought are a common feature of Mediterranean weather, but the picture is looking quite worrying in 2022, with water levels in reservoirs at 37 percent, according to the Catalan Water Agency, and consistently dropping over the past months.
Alejandra Angulo Alonso is joined by Guifré Jordan and Cillian Shields to discuss the widespread impacts of the drought in Catalonia. We visit Sant Romà de Sau, where an 11th-century church, usually hidden by the Sau reservoir, has emerged from the water, attracting tourists and curious locals. We also speak with Àngel Font, a former resident of the old village now reappearing above the water.
This week's Catalan phrase is actually a tongue twister – ‘Plou poc, però pel poc que plou, plou prou’, which means, “It rains little, but for the little bit that it rains, it rains enough.”
Teachers and students are back in school again with significant changes compared to last year, after a recent wave of strikes, protests, and heated debates within the education sector.
Alejandra Angulo Alonso is joined by Cristina Tomàs White and Gerard Escaich Folch to discuss the new changes and take a look at the future challenges of the Catalan education system. We visit a local school and speak with teachers and parents about what’s new this academic year.
This week's Catalan phrase is ‘Tenir més paciència que un mestre d'escola’, which means ‘To be more patient than a school teacher’
The story of Cava spans generations of winemakers, but today the territory's most exported sparkling wine is facing new challenges.
Alejandra Angulo Alonso is joined by Cristina Tomàs White and Gerard Escaich Folch to discuss the history of cava, the differences between this and other sparkling wines, as well as the impact of climate change and supply chain disruptions during the 2022 harvest season.
Join us as we visit Codorníu, the oldest winery in Catalonia located in the Penedès region, south of Barcelona. We hear from cava experts about their passion for sparkling wines and new sustainable production methods. Cheers! This week's Catalan phrase is 'Cap de suro', it translates to "cork head", but it actually means ignorant!
The scheme's ultimate goal is to cut poverty. How’s Catalonia going to do it?
Alejandra Angulo Alonso is joined by Cristina Tomàs White to discuss Catalonia’s Universal Basic Income pilot project, an ambitious social experiment that will give people an unconditional monthly payment, starting from January 2023 to December 2024.
We also hear from social scientist, Bru Laín, on the specifics of Catalonia’s scheme, while professor Jurgen De Wispelaere from the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga give us an overview of other countries' experiences developing UBI trials.
This week's Catalan phrase is ‘Pagant, Sant Pere canta’ which means everything is possible with money.
Whether you’re new to Catalonia or a local about to move abroad, tune in for some advice and funny stories on coping with culture shock. Alejandra Angulo Alonso, Cillian Shields, and Gerard Escaich Folch ask tourists what has been their biggest culture shock so far and a psychology professor from the University of Barcelona explains the difficulties of being in unfamiliar environments. This week's Catalan phrase is ‘Allà on vagis, fes el que vegis fer allí’. A close contender in English would be “When in Rome do as the Romans do.”
When it comes to music genres in Catalonia, there is hardly a more iconic one than Catalan Rumba, born in the Romani communities of Barcelona.
Alejandra Angulo is joined by Cristina Tomàs White and Gerard Escaich Folch to talk you through Catalan Rumba's origins, main figures, and current state. All this and more while playing great hits!
This week's Catalan phrase is ''Amics per sempre”. Literally, 'friends forever', our little homage to the song performed by Catalan band “Los Manolos”.
Storms, rising sea levels, and political disputes have put the future of Catalonia’s - and Spain’s - oldest train line at risk. Will the famed R1 Maresme railway survive the rapid effects of climate change?
Cristina Tomàs White and Gerard Escaich Folch chat with locals, officials and environmental experts to find out more about this issue.
This week's Catalan phrase is “perdre el tren”, which means ''losing an opportunity.” Presented by Alejandra Angulo Alonso.
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games are the sporting event that put Barcelona on the world map and changed the city forever. In this episode, we take a nostalgic look back at the sporting memories, the opening and closing ceremonies, and the architectural legacy of the epic Summer Olympics of 1992 in the month of its 30th anniversary. Cillian Shields and Guifré Jordan interview Olympic medalists, a volunteer during the event, and an official for the Olympic stadium.
This week's Catalan phrase is “això va vent en popa a tota vela”, which means that a project is going well.
Catalonia boasts many UNESCO World Heritage Sites, most of them located in the city of Barcelona. But beyond Parc Güell, Casa Batlló, and the Sagrada Família, there is an amazing world of historic architecture and beautiful natural landscapes that form the building blocks of Catalan culture. In this episode, we take you on a journey to all of these places, inside the capital and beyond.
Cillian Shields heads to Palau de la Música Catalana, one of Barcelona's most emblematic UNESCO World Heritage Sites, designed by architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner. He is shown around the venue by Mercè Mill, who leads the team of tour guides at the historic concert hall owned by the Orfeó Català choral society.
This week's Catalan phrase is “Passar a la història”, which means ''to become historic.” Presented by Alejandra Angulo Alonso.
With a huge number of tourists returning after the pandemic, prices going up, and more than 800 cruise ships expected to arrive in Barcelona this summer, the sharp influx of visitors has once again sparked the debate among locals and within the city council. Is Catalonia, and especially its capital, ready to survive the boiling summer?
Cristina Tomàs White and Gerard Escaich Folch go on a field trip to some of the busiest places in the Catalan capital where tourists flock. They chat with locals, visitors, and representatives of the hospitality sector about what to expect this season.
This week's Catalan phrase is Barcelona és bona, si la bossa sona, which means ''Barcelona is happy with the sound of jingling pocket.” Presented by Alejandra Angulo Alonso.
A painter and a sculptor, an anti-fascist and proud Catalan, rooted in the earth and gazing at the stars.
Cillian Shields and Lorcan Doherty chat about the life and works, and the unique imagination of Joan Miró, one of the giants of twentieth century art.
Marko Daniel, director of the Miró Foundation in Barcelona, explores how places – Barcelona, Mont-roig del Camp, Paris, Mallorca – and turbulent times – the Spanish Civil War, World War II, the Franco dictatorship – shaped the man and his art.
This week's Catalan phrase is one uttered by Miró: 'Jo vull assassinar la pintura', or 'I want to kill painting'.
Not for the faint-hearted, castells are human towers that can reach up to 10 stories high – that's 10 groups of people stacked on top of each other!
Cristina Tomàs White and Guifré Jordan join Lorcan Doherty to delve into 'el mon casteller', the world of human towers.
We visit one of the gravity-defying groups in Barcelona, the Castellers de Sants, and chat to Ignasi Escamilla from the Catalan Human Tower Groups Association (Coordinadora de Colles Castelleres de Catalunya).
This week's Catalan phrase is 'fer pinya', which comes from the human tower tradition and means to come together for a common goal, to collaborate.
Fire-breathing dragons, dancing giants, music, drums, fireworks… for five days every year thousands of people pack the narrow streets of Berga for a party like no other – La Patum!
Guifré Jordan and Gerard Escaich Folch go along to witness the spectacle and chat to Cristina Urrea and Cristina Farràs from the Guita Grossa group, Xavi Prat, head of the Tabal drum group and Albert Rumbo, historian, and giant!
This week's Catalan phrase is 'Cada dia no és festa major', which means 'Not every day is a party', so enjoy it while it lasts! Presented by Lorcan Doherty.
Catalonia's 'Indians' were merchants who sailed to the Americas to make their fortunes before returning to their homeland to enjoy their riches.
Gerard Escaich Folch travels to Begur where Anna Castellví from the Xarxa de Municipis Indians explains the architectural, social and cultural influence the returning emigrants had.
The links between 'Indians' and the slave trade are explored by Martín Rodrigo, professor of contemporary history at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona.
Singer Neus Mar sings a havanera by the sea in Calella de Palafrugell.
This week's Catalan phrase is a song lyric: 'El meu avi', which means 'My Grandad'.
Presented by Lorcan Doherty.
A summer festival special with live music and chat from Catalan artists The Tyets and Le Nais. Lorcan Doherty is joined by Cillian Shields and Angus Clelland to give the lowdown on what's happening in Catalonia this summer, from the major music festivals to the local festes majors and lots more. Plus DJ John Talabot on the joy of gigs and hugs after the trauma of the past two years. This week's Catalan phrase is 'cantar-li les quaranta'. Literally, 'to sing the forty', it means to tell someone off.
First 91,553. Then 91,648.
Twice this season the fans of FC Barcelona Femení broke the world record attendance for an official women's football match.
Players – Fridolina Rölfo, Mariona Caldentey and Sandra Paños – and fans – Oriol, Marta and Noemí – describe the special bond that exists between this team and its supporters.
Cillian Shields and Guifré Jordan join Lorcan Doherty to chat about the sporting and social phenomenon that is the Barcelona women's team, plus a look at Xavi's impact on the men's team and the renovation plans announced for the Camp Nou.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'aixafar la guitarra'. Literally, 'to smash the guitar', it is used when something ruins your plans.
Cristina Tomàs White and Guifré Jordan join Lorcan Doherty to look at the journey our waste goes on, from local neighborhood drop-off points to massive industrial-scale processing plants. Plus, innovative ways to get people to recycle more, including music jingles in Catalonia and Taiwan, and a quiz on what rubbish goes in which bin, with help from residuonvas.cat. This week's Catalan phrase is 'això fa olor a socarrim'. Literally, 'this smells burnt', it is used when something looks bad, similar to the English-language phrase 'this smells fishy'.
Spring has sprung and Catalonia is in bloom. Nowhere more so than the historic city of Girona, which this time of year is transformed into a riot of color and life for the Temps de Flors flower festival.
Gerard Escaich Folch explores the artistry on display around the city and hears what visitors make of it. Angus Clelland gets a picture of the floral sector in Catalonia from Joan Guillen, president of the Catalan Florists' Association. This week's Catalan phrase is 'no tot són flors i violes'. Literally, 'not everything is flowers and violas', it means not everything is as nice as it seems. Presented by Lorcan Doherty.
Cristina Tomàs White and Gerard Escaich Folch join Lorcan Doherty to discuss the ins and outs of Catalangate, Spain's alleged espionage operation – investigated by Citizen Lab and reported by the New Yorker – of over 65 Catalan pro-independence politicians, activists, and their close associates. With Spanish intelligence admitting to having spied on 18 individuals, and senior Spanish figures also targeted separately, we look at the legal and political fallout and hear from four of those targeted: Elisenda Paluzie, president of Catalan National Assembly, Esquerra MP Meritxell Serret, and lawyers Andreu Van den Eynde and Gonzalo Boye. This week's Catalan phrase is 'donar gat per llebre', literally 'to give cat for hare', it means to deceive someone by trying to pass one thing off as another.
Alcarràs, from Catalan filmmaker Carla Simón, won the Golden Bear at this year's Berlin International Film Festival.
At the premiere in Lleida, cast members chat to Filling the Sink about Simón's unique directing style and the movie's themes of traditional farming in the modern world.
Cillian Shields and Angus Clelland join Lorcan Doherty to chat about Alcarràs, as well as Simón's other films and the hallmarks of Catalan cinema.
Judith Colell, president of the Catalan Film Academy, explains how international success can benefit the next generation of Catalan filmmakers.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'com una casa de pagès'. Literally, 'like a farmhouse', it means something very big or obvious.
Sant Jordi - Saint George - is the patron saint of Catalonia. His feast day, April 23, is a celebration of love, roses and romance, as well as books and literature. Lorcan Doherty is joined by Guifré Jordan and Angus Clelland to chat about what makes this day so special for Catalans and how independent book stores in Barcelona are trying to survive and thrive in the age of online shopping. This week's Catalan phrase is 'ploure a bots i barrals', similar to 'it's raining cats and dogs' in English.
With Catalonia becoming ever more secular, especially among younger generations, we hear from four people bucking that trend: Nagia, a Muslim; Gagandeep, a Sikh; Dolma, a Buddhist; and Gisela, a Catholic.
Plus, never mind Easter eggs, Lluís Estrada Canal of Pastisseria Canal explains everything you need to know about mones de pasqua, Catalonia's traditional Easter cakes.
Lorcan Doherty is joined by Cristina Tomàs White and Gerard Escaich Folch.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'encara que es vesteixi de seda, la mona, mona es queda'. It means 'even dressed in silk, a monkey is still a monkey'.
We visit Alimentaria, one of the world's biggest food and drink trade fairs.
Cillian Shields learns about the Mediterranean diet, chatting artichokes with Montse Lozano from El Prat Agricultural Cooperative, olive oil with Victor Huguet from Oils of Catalonia, and pickled veg with Rioverde's Alejandra Rovira and Cristina Bezares.
Cristina Tomàs White looks at the past, present and future of vegetarianism with Flax & Kale's Jordi Barri, Maria Sánchez from Noel charcuterie, and Ana Torrejón, a chemical engineer developing cultured meat with Ainia.
This week's Catalan phrase is 's'ha acabat el bròquil'. Literally, 'the broccoli's over', it's used when there's nothing left of something or when something's done or finished.
Presented by Lorcan Doherty.
Cristina Tomàs White and Cillian Shields join Lorcan Doherty to discuss the economic effects in Catalonia of the war in Ukraine.
Cristina Serradell, director of international trade at Catalonia Trade & Investment, explains how Catalan businesses and global supply chains are adjusting.
We hear from truckers and taxi drivers protesting against rising fuel costs, find out how soaring energy prices are hurting manufacturers, and ask what actions authorities are taking to address the crisis.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'has begut oli', literally 'you have drunk oil', it means you have made a big mistake.
As thousands of Ukrainian refugees take their first steps towards building a new life in Catalonia, we hear about the efforts being made to help them settle in, by the authorities and by ordinary people too.
Guifré Jordan travels to Guissona in western Catalonia, a small town with a significant Ukrainian population. He chats to volunteers Romaniya Dzhus and Ignasi Ribera, mayor Jaume Ars and secondary school teacher Jordi Ticó.
Gerard Escaich Folch meets Irina, a Ukrainian living in Catalonia, and her childhood friend, Alexandra, a refugee who fled Ukraine with her two daughters.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'allargar la mà', or, 'to give a helping hand'.
Presented by Lorcan Doherty.
Catalonia has had an educational policy of linguistic immersion for over 30 years. In other words, teaching in schools is done through Catalan.
Gerard Escaich Folch and Guifré Jordan join Lorcan Doherty to explain how the system works, the rationale behind it, and why it could now be in jeopardy.
We get the opinions of Ana Losada, spokesperson for School for Everyone and head of the Assembly for Bilingual Schooling; Albert Bayot Fuertes, the Girona representative of the Catalan Graduate Teachers Association; and Anna Rosés, a Catalan teacher at Escola Pia Sarrià-Calassanç in Barcelona.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'fer escola'. Literally 'to do or make school', it means to have disciples, followers or imitators.
Marking two years of the pandemic, four stories from people whose lives changed dramatically:
Tony Martín, a language teacher and transplant patient with long Covid.
Eva Celebrovsky, who has geleophysic dysplasia and whose son has a serious metabolic disorder.
Dr. Robert Güerri, Head of Infectious Diseases and Covid-19 Hospitalization Coordinator at Hospital del Mar in Barcelona.
Jeroni Castell, the Michelin-starred chef and owner of Les Moles in Ulldecona who reinvented his business.
Presented by Lorcan Doherty with Cristina Tomàs White, Cillian Shields, Gerard Escaich Folch and Guifré Jordan.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'tirar-se a la piscina', literally 'to throw yourself in the pool', it means to take a risk or 'to take the plunge'.
Since Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered a large-scale military invasion of Ukraine, Catalonia – especially its 25,000-strong Ukrainian community – has reacted with daily protests, a massive humanitarian aid effort and by welcoming people fleeing the conflict. We hear from Ukrainians and Russians living here on the impact the war is having. Lorcan Doherty is joined by Guifré Jordan and Cillian Shields. This week's Catalan phrase is 'tenir mala llet', literally 'to have bad milk', it means to be nasty or have bad intentions.
Catalonia is home to some 500 cannabis clubs, establishments that exploit ambiguities in the law to provide a space for members to socialize and smoke. Gerard Escaich Folch visits one in Barcelona and speaks to blogger Javier Díaz and Patrícia Amiguet, president of the Federation of Catalan Cannabis Associations. Catalonia is also the "epicenter of Europe's illegal marijuana market," according to police. Cristina Tomàs White speaks to Mossos d'Esquadra officer Joan Carles Granja and learns about the legal situation of cannabis from Joan Bertomeu, a lawyer at the specialist law firm, Brotsanbert. This week's Catalan phrase is 'fumar com una xemeneia' – to smoke like a chimney. Presented by Lorcan Doherty.
If you can work from home, you can work from anywhere. That's the philosophy of the digital nomad. Cristina Tomàs White, Cillian Shields and Lorcan Doherty explore what makes Catalonia one of the top spots for people who want to combine work and travel. Núria Bernat from Coimpact Coliving tells us about creating a community space for digital nomads arriving in Barcelona. UX designer Nathan Dolan shares why he chose to set up in the Catalan capital. We look at the legal and tax implications for digital nomads in Catalonia, with tips from Alejandro Guayta, tax lawyer at DiG lawyers. This week's Catalan phrase is 'anem per feina', which literally means 'let's go to work', but has the sense of 'let's do this', 'let's get down to business'.
From the outside, calçots may appear to be just a simple, humble vegetable, but for Catalans they are the centerpiece of the calçotada – big, social barbecues that are hugely popular during the winter and early spring.
Cristina Tomàs White and Cillian Shields travel to Valls, the center of the calçot universe, to discover the traditional way to cook – and eat! – calçots.
Laura Ricote and David Nieto from Casa Fèlix share their recipe for salsa de calçots.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'menjar com un porc', which means 'to eat like a pig'.
Presented by Lorcan Doherty.
Catalonia is divided over a potential bid to host the 2030 Winter Olympics in the Pyrenees and Barcelona, with differing opinions on climate and sustainability, sporting facilities, development and infrastructure, and, of course, costs. We hear the arguments for – from Mònica Bosch, president of the Catalan Winter Sports Federation and Gerard Esteva, president of the Catalan Sports Federations Union (UFEC) – and against – from Pau Lozano, a spokesperson for Stop Olympic Games and Ferran Canudas, president of the Group in Defense of Nature in Berguedà. Cillian Shields and Guifré Jordan join Lorcan Doherty to discuss everything we know about the bid so far. This week's Catalan phrase is 'paper mullat', literally 'wet paper'. It can refer to a document, agreement etc that ends up not being worth anything.
Cristina Tomàs White and Gerard Escaich Folch join Lorcan Doherty to remember two giants in the world of Catalan architecture that passed away recently: Ricardo Bofill and Oriol Bohigas.
They discuss their legacy and that of some other leading figures from recent decades that have made their mark on Barcelona and around the world.
Guifré Jordan is one of thousands to pay tribute to Bofill at his Sant Just Desvern workshop.
Stefanie Herr and Lorenzo Kárász from Guiding Architects Barcelona take us on a tour of 22@, the former industrial zone in Barcelona that's been transformed into a design and innovation hub.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'enlloc com a casa', which means 'no place like home'.
Get in touch! fillingthesink@acn.cat
Guifré Jordan and Cillian Shields join Lorcan Doherty to discover what lies beneath the streets of the Catalan capital. We go to a Civil War air raid shelter with local historian Josep Contel, learn about ghost metro stations and abandoned underground shopping centers from CultRuta tour guide Manuel Marina, and visit Barcelona's water control center and a giant water depository beneath Parc de Joan Miró. Architect Rosina Vinyes, director of urban planning in Santa Coloma de Gramenet, explains how the urban subsoil is essential for daily life. This week's Catalan phrase is 'pou sense fons', literally 'bottomless well', it's used when things continue going wrong with no end in sight. Get in touch: fillingthesink@acn.cat
The Catalan coast is 580km of sandy beaches, hidden coves and pine forests, but also homes, hotels and everything else needed for people to live and work in coastal towns or spend their holidays by the sea. This week we look at a debate that's raged for decades in Catalonia: the balance between new urban development and conservation along the shore. Agustí Serra, the government's director of urban planning, and Dirk Ewers from International Friends of the Costa Brava talk to Cristina Tomàs White. Gerard Escaich Folch travels to Sitges and speaks to Eduard Terrado, the councilor responsible for urban planning, and Daniel Gracia, manager of Tomás Gracia Constructions. This week's Catalan phrase is 'tela marinera', which literally means 'marine fabric', but can be used to express surprise at the size, cost, difficulty etc. of something. Presented by Lorcan Doherty.
Residency red tape is all too familiar for foreigners moving to Catalonia, but an increasingly broken system is forcing many to pay over the odds to obtain the requisite documentation. Cristina Tomàs White and Cillian Shields join Lorcan Doherty to investigate what is going on with NIE (Foreigner Identity Number) and TIE (Foreigner Identity Card) appointments. Skye, Zach, Antonia, Daria, Rupert and Leslie share their Kafkaesque attempts to navigate Spanish bureaucracy. We ask Carlos Prieto Gómez, a representative of the Spanish government in Barcelona, why getting appointments is so difficult and what is being done to improve things. This week's Catalan phrase, or rather, word, is pocavergonya, which means shameless.
Exactly 20 years ago, euro coins and banknotes came into circulation, on January 1, 2002. Guifré Jordan and Gerard Escaich Folch join Lorcan Doherty to take a look back at the switch over from pesetas, remember them? We hear the opinions of Pedro Aznar from Esade Business School and Xavier Ferrer from the Catalan Economists' Association on whether the euro has been good for Catalonia. Shoppers in Barcelona tell us what they remember about the old currency. This week's Catalan phrase is 'la pela és la pela', it means 'money talks' or 'business is business'; 'la pela' is a nickname for the peseta but the phrase is still used today.
Catalonia may be known for its cava but it's actually home to over 100 craft beer breweries making over 1000 different craft beers. Guifré Jordan and Cillian Shields join Lorcan Doherty to take a look at the industry, which is going from strength to strength while still keeping its sense of close-knit community. We take a tour of the Cervesa del Montseny brewery – one of Catalonia's leading producers of artisanal beer – and sample the atmosphere at Barcelona Beer Festival, back for the first time since before the pandemic. Instead of a Catalan phrase, we've got a set of words to help you order just the right amount of your favorite craft beer – quinto, canya, canyeta, mitjana and gerra.
The Sagrada Família is an icon of Barcelona. Tourists flock to Gaudí's basilica in their millions every year, but not everyone in Barcelona is so enamored with it. In the week that a new 12-point star crowning the tower of the Virgin Mary was lit up for the first time, Cillian Shields and Gerard Escaich Folch join Lorcan Doherty to chat about the building's history and architecture, as well as the controversies it has generated. Tour guide Onno Schoemaker explains the symbolism wrapped up in this 'bible of stone'. Salvador Barroso of People Affected by the Construction of the Sagrada Família relays his fears that the church's expansion plans could see him lose his home. This week's Catalan phrase is 'ser de bona fusta', literally 'to be of good wood'. It means to be a strong, healthy person.
Dr Magda Campins – chair of Catalonia's Covid-19 Scientific Advisory Committee and head of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology at Vall d'Hebron Hospital in Barcelona – on the Omicron variant, booster shots and why Christmas office parties should be avoided. Lorcan Doherty, Cristina Tomàs White and Guifré Jordan discuss the profile of a sixth wave patient, the latest travel rules, and FAQs from residents and tourists on the use of Covid certificates in cafes, bars and restaurants. This week's Catalan phrase is 'cada dos per tres'. It means something that happens very frequently.
Catalan is a vibrant, living language with 10 million speakers and a history stretching back to the Middle Ages, but statistics show a decline in use and language activists say it needs more protection, not least in classrooms and on online streaming platforms.
Guifré Jordan and Gerard Escaich Folch join Lorcan Doherty to discuss recent developments affecting the language, including a Supreme Court ruling on Catalan-medium education.
Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones, president of the European Language Equality Network, and Òscar Escuder, president of Plataforma per la Llengua (Platform for the Language), give their views on the social, political and technological challenges.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'clar i català', or 'clear and Catalan'. It means to say something frankly and concisely.
Founded in 1892, Barcelona Zoo is part of the fabric of the city. But what should its role be in the 21st century? The zoo's director, Antoni Alarcón, and zookeeper Núria Moreno Gutiérrez, argue that zoos are essential for protecting biodiversity, but animal rights activist Rosi Carro of the ZooXXI group says that more changes are urgently needed. Norbert Bilbeny, ethics professor at the University of Barcelona gives his view of how the relationship between humans and animals should be. Cristina Tomàs White and Gerard Escaich Folch join Lorcan Doherty to discuss the past, present and future of the zoo. This week's Catalan phrase is 'a pas de tortuga', literally 'at a turtle's pace', it's used to describe something that moves very slowly!
The Covid-19 pandemic completely changed the world of work. Working from home became the norm for many, but is it here to stay? And has the time come for an even bigger change: after 100 years of Monday to Friday, is it time for a four-day working week? Guifré Jordan and Aina Martí join Lorcan Doherty to discuss the future of work, including a report on Desigual, where employees recently voted for a four-day work week. Xavier Güell, Managing Director of CBRE Barcelona, explains how offices are changing. This week's Catalan phrase is 'a empentes i rodolons', literally something like 'by pushes and rolls', it's means to achieve something after overcoming obstacles or difficulties.
Anime dubbed in Catalan, massive manga conventions, sushi restaurants on every other street, and even a couple of sake breweries: there's no doubt that Japanese culture has a big influence on contemporary Catalan life. Cillian Shields visits Manga Barcelona, a celebration of the world of Japanese comics and animation attended by over 122,000 people. Marc Pérez from the El Racó del Manga podcast gives his thoughts on why Catalans are so enamored with the land of the rising sun. Guifré Jordan explains to Lorcan Doherty how his generation was the first to grow up watching anime in Catalan. This week's Catalan phrase is 'cap de suro ', literally 'cork head', it's a common insult in Catalan dubbing of Japanese anime for someone who appears to be not very intelligent!
The Mediterranean climate, good food, beaches, not to mention excellent health care and public transport: what’s not to like about living in Catalonia? Well, how about high rents, low salaries, and hellish bureaucracy? Those are some of the issues highlighted by Filling the Sink listeners, Catalan News readers and attendees at Barcelona International Community Day, who tell us the good, the bad, and the funny side of moving to Catalonia from abroad. Cristina Tomàs White and Cillian Shields join Lorcan Doherty. This week's Catalan phrase is 'donar carbassa', literally 'to give pumpkin' it means to get rejected or turned down.
All-time records for wholesale electricity prices have been broken 19 times over the past few months, causing bills to soar for many consumers and businesses. Cristina Tomàs White and Guifré Jordan join Lorcan Doherty to discuss the causes and the consequences of the energy crisis affecting Europe. Ana García from the Economists Association of Catalonia explains the reasons behind the price hikes and how long we can expect them to continue. Maria Campuzano from the Alliance Against Energy Poverty talks about how Catalan law should protect the most vulnerable, while Marc from Vic shares his struggle to make ends meet. Plus we look at the different types of contracts available in Spain and the marginal pricing model used to determine the price of electricity. This week's Catalan phrase is 'estar com un llum', literally 'to be like a light', it means 'to be crazy'.
This is a good news podcast! With almost three quarters of the population fully vaccinated and less than 100 people in ICU – down from nearly 600 at the beginning of August – almost all of Catalonia's Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted. Capacity limits are no longer in place in most settings, restaurants are back to pre-pandemic opening hours and nightclubs are back. Cristina Tomàs White and Cillian Shields join Lorcan Doherty to discuss the latest coronavirus figures and measures, and there's a trip to Razzmatazz, one of Barcelona's biggest clubs, as it reopens for the first time in 19 months. The Catalan phrase this week is 'tenir la festa en pau'. Literally meaning 'to have the party in peace', it's used, for example, to urge people to calm down and move on during an argument.
The arrest of former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont on the Italian island of Sardinia in September was the latest twist in the four-year saga of the exiled Catalan pro-independence leaders. In this podcast Puigdemont's lawyer, Gonzalo Boye, explains why he's certain that Spain's extradition attempts will not be successful. Cristina Tomàs White and Cillian Shields look back on the key moments from the past four years of legal wrangling. Guifré Jordan joins Lorcan Doherty to discuss the drama and intrigue of covering one of Europe's biggest political stories and they look ahead to what could happen next, with Catalonia demanding an amnesty but Spain firmly ruling one out. This week's Catalan phrase is 'pixar fora de test' or 'to piss outside the pot'. It means to say something inappropriate.
Catalonia has a rich tradition of folk tales, full of strange characters and mysterious creatures. Cillian Shields and Alan Ruiz Terol join Lorcan Doherty to ask where these stories come from, what they tell us about the past, and what relevance they have in today's world. There's drama, as we re-enact how the Devil's Bridge in Martorell got its name, and music, as Alan serenades us with a tale of two giants, El Gegant del Pi. Plus, Víctor Borràs from the Catalan Legends Festival on the magic of mythology.
A look at Barcelona's fascinating urban history and bold plans for the future.
Dr Zaida Muxí Martínez from the Barcelona School of Architecture at UPC explains the challenges facing the city as it seeks to transform its public spaces.
Cillian Shields visits a so-called superblock in the Sant Antoni neighborhood to see if cars, bicycles, electric scooters and pedestrians can co-exist.
Alan Ruiz Terol recounts the history of Barcelona, from the ancient Roman walled city to Ildefons Cerdà's 19th century expansion plan.
This week's Catalan phrase is "ser mes vell que l'anar a peu," which means "to be older than going on foot."
Presented by Lorcan Doherty.
Filling the Sink listeners and Catalan News readers from around the world explain how and why they joined the more than 9 million people that speak Catalan.
They also reveal some of their favorite words, such as somiatruites, or daydreamer, which literally translates as omelette-dreamer!
Dr Afra Pujol i Campeny on the challenges of teaching her native language and what motivates students abroad – like those at the University of Cambridge – to study it.
Cristina Tomàs White and Cillian Shields join Lorcan Doherty to chat about their experiences with the language and discuss the question: is it difficult to learn Catalan?
Catalonia celebrates its National Day on September 11, known in Catalan as La Diada. Alan Ruiz Terol joins Lorcan Doherty to chat about the history behind the date – a military defeat in 1714 – and the symbols used to mark the day.
Xènia Palau looks back on the last decade of massive pro-independence demonstrations that have taken place on the National Day, while Alan and Lorcan discuss the impact the rallies have had on Catalan politics.
This week's Catalan phrase is "endavant les atxes," which is used to give encouragement when facing difficulties.
September in Catalonia is harvest time - la verema – when grapes are picked to go from vine to wine.
Winegrower and co-owner of the Celler Can Roda winery, Enric Gil, explains the challenges posed by climate change and how this year's crop is shaping up after a difficult harvest last year.
Enric Bartra from INCAVI, the Catalan Institute of Vine and Wine, on what makes Catalan wines stand out on the world stage and the remarkable growth of organic wines in Catalonia.
Guifré Jordan joins Lorcan Doherty to chat about wine tourism and the harvest festival.
This week's Catalan phrase is "dormir la mona," literally "to sleep the (female) monkey," it means to fall asleep after a few too many drinks!
Cricket, Gaelic football and American football are three sports that are hugely popular in certain parts of the world but more of a minority pursuit in Catalonia. But that doesn't mean that the players are any less passionate.
Cillian Shields and Lorcan Doherty discuss how these three sports are going from strength to strength, with local Catalans being bitten by the Gaelic football bug, the citizens of Barcelona voting to invest in a new cricket ground, and Catalan American football teams dominating the Spanish league and setting their sights on Europe.
Diego and Michael from Sitges GAA and Sam, Lucky and Shub from the Men in Blue and Barcelona International Cricket Club explain why the social side of playing sport is so important to them, transcending international differences and political fault lines to provide friendship and a sense of community.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'passar la pilota,' literally meaning 'to pass the ball', it's used like the English-language phrase 'pass the buck', to pass on responsibility to someone else.
On the northern side of the Pyrenees, surrounded by high mountain peaks, lies the beautiful Val d'Aran, the Aran valley. Its geographic isolation has helped foster and protect its distinct culture, including the Aranese language, a dialect of Occitan.
Biologist and mountain guide Sara Arjó, head of Cultural Heritage in Val d'Aran, Elisa Ros, and Jordi Gavaldà from the center of snow avalanche prediction offer their thoughts on the natural and human forces that shape this land.
Alan Ruiz Terol chats to Lorcan Doherty about the history of this unique place and recounts some tales he picked up on his recent visit.
Jusèp Loís Sans Socasau reads an extract of Mossen Josèp Condò's poem 'Era lengua aranesa'.
There are two Aranese phrases this week. 'Badalhi-badalhò, hame a o dromir vò', which means if someone’s yawning, they’re either hungry or tired, and 'long com era hame de mai', which means 'long like May’s hunger'.
On today's menu, a mouthwatering starter in the form of an interview with Carme Ruscalleda, a passionate, virtuoso chef who has been awarded seven Michelin stars across three restaurants in Catalonia and Japan.
For the main course, Judith Càlix from Cuina, Catalonia's favorite foodie magazine, on 20 years of food revolution and five young chefs to check out right now.
And for dessert, a visit to Alkimia in Barcelona, to hear head chef Jordi Vilà's take on the philosophy and business of running a Michelin-starred restaurant.
Your maître d' is Lorcan Doherty and Alan Ruiz Terol serves up the palate cleansers.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'a la taula i al llit, al primer crit', literally 'to the table and to bed on the first shout', it means you should go to eat or sleep straight away when you're called.
The five young chefs recommended by Judith Càlix are Arnau Muñío, Eli Nolla, Joseba Cruz, Arnau Bosch and Martina Puigvert. More information on Cuina's website.
Many migrants to Catalonia from lower-income countries find themselves doing precarious summer work, such as harvesting fruit in the fields around Lleida, or selling goods on the streets of Barcelona and other cities.
Serigne Mamadou, a seasonal worker from Senegal, Llibert Reixach, from the Fruita and Justícia Social seasonal workers' rights group and Jaume Pedrós of the Unió de Pagesos farmers union give their perspectives on whether the situation for fruit harvesters has improved since last year, when Covid-19 outbreaks and images of workers sleeping rough hit the headlines.
Xènia Palau visits the Top Manta shop and factory, set up by the street vendors' union as a way to provide legitimate work and sell their own brands of clothes and shoes. Papalaye and Lamine explain the challenges of working as a street seller (or manter in Catalan after the blankets where they display their wares) and the success and strength of the shop and union.
Cristina Tomàs White and Guifré Jordan join Lorcan Doherty to put these stories in the wider context of immigration, racism, the economy, policing and social policy.
This week's Catalan phrase is 'amb una sabata i una espardenya,' literally, with a shoe and an espadrille, which is a type of traditional Catalan rope-soled summer shoe. It means to get by with what you've got.
From black holes to climate change to Covid-19, cutting edge research is taking place in Catalonia. Barcelona Supercomputing Center and ALBA Synchrotron are two high tech research facilities that are key to the country's contribution to the global scientific effort to enhance our understanding of the world around us and address the challenges of the 21st century.
Guifré Jordan visits ALBA Synchrotron, where electrons are accelerated to produce x-ray beams that allow scientists to see the atomic structure of matter and study its properties. Salvador Ferrer, Eduardo Solano and Julian Steele explain how the facility works and its role in their research.
Xènia Palau joins Lorcan Doherty to describe the scientific discoveries made possible by the MareNostrum supercomputer at Barcelona Supercomputing Center, and the plans to upgrade what is already one of the world's most powerful machines.
This week's Catalan phrase is "La paciencia es la mare de la ciencia," or, patience is the mother of science.
Catalonia is in the midst of its fifth wave of the coronavirus pandemic. Faced with record numbers of daily cases and rising hospitalizations the government has introduced a 1am to 6am curfew for the worst-hit towns and cities, including Barcelona, affecting some 80% of the population.
Enric Alvarez, a member of the BIOCOM-SC research team at UPC considers the reasons behind this dramatic rise in transmission, especially among young people, and whether it could have been predicted or avoided.
Cristina Tomàs White and Guifré Jordan join Lorcan Doherty to discuss the latest figures and restrictions, and respond to readers' questions about vaccinations, quarantining and EU digital Covid certificates.
This week's Catalan phrase is "ensopegar dues vegades amb la mateixa pedra", which means to stumble over the same stone twice.
A new satellite terminal and a runway extension. That's what AENA, the company that manages Barcelona Airport, says is needed if it is to be an international hub. Catalan society and local authorities are divided on the issue, with business leaders arguing it is essential for the economy, while environmentalists warn against the destruction of the Llobregat delta and increased carbon emissions. Cillian Shields joins Lorcan Doherty to discuss the arguments for and against expansion.
Òscar Oliver, infrastructure management professor at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, and Olivier Chantry, an organic vegetable farmer and the Catalan Farmers Union's biodiversity and climate change representative in Baix Llobregat, give their thoughts.
This week's Catalan phrase is "tants caps, tants barrets," literally "as many heads as there are hats," it means that there are as many opinions as there are people.
On June 23, 2021, after three and a half years behind bars, nine Catalan politicians and activists in jail for their roles during the 2017 independence push were released after receiving pardons from the Spanish president.
We look back on that historic day and the lead up to it and discuss what lies ahead, with a return to negotiations between the Spanish and Catalan governments on the horizon.
Alan Ruiz Terol joins Lorcan Doherty to discuss why, within the independence camp, the pardons have been given a lukewarm reception, seen as a half measure falling well short of a general amnesty.
Marc Sanjaume-Calvet, professor of political science at the Open University of Catalonia, explains why the Spanish executive took this decision to pardon the independence leaders, and the impact the move could have on Spanish politics as a whole.
This week's Catalan phrase is "Per Sant Joan, el primer bany," meaning that Saint John's Eve, June 23, is the night for the first swim of the year.
Soaring rents in Catalonia – especially in the capital Barcelona – have pushed housing to the top of the social and political agenda. Evictions, sometimes with a heavy police presence, are commonplace, despite a moratorium for vulnerable people during the pandemic.
At the top level, the Spanish government is taking Catalonia's rent cap law to court for overstepping regional powers, while on the ground, a powerful network of grassroots organizations supports those who face being forced from their homes.
Cristina Tomàs White brings us the stories of three women in Barcelona affected by the housing crisis. Scarlett Reiners provides a picture of how the situation compares to other parts of Europe.
This week's Catalan phrase is "llençar la casa per la finestra," literally "to throw your house out the window," it means to spend a lot of money on something.
Filling the Sink is presented by Lorcan Doherty and produced by Catalan News.
Where to go and what to do. A look at the rules and regulations for entering Spain from abroad as well as the Covid measures in place on arrival.
Cillian Shields and Guifré Jordan join Lorcan Doherty to chat about summer plans and tourist itineraries, including everything from adventure sports to wine tasting. They discuss what is open for tourists in Barcelona and, after a devastating summer last year, ask what hopes the tourism industry has for a recovery.
This week's Catalan phrase is "fer l'agost", literally "to do August," it means to earn a lot of money.
FC Barcelona Femení have had an incredible season, wrapping up the league with eight games to spare, becoming the first team from the Spanish league to become European champions, before winning the cup to complete a historic treble. Most importantly, they've done it all in style.
Barça Femení's Laia Codina explains what these victories mean, both on and off the field.
Cristina Tomàs White celebrates Barça's success but can't help but wonder how much attitudes have changed since she was put off playing football as a young girl.
Cillian Shields chats to Lorcan Doherty about his recent match-day experience watching the blaugrana in action and discusses the fight for better working conditions and professionalism for all footballers in the top flight.
This week's Catalan phrase is "obrir la llauna." Literally "open the can," it means to score the first goal in a match, normally after lots of pressure.
The ride-hailing app Uber is back in Barcelona after a two-year absence. It's had to change its business model to comply with Catalan regulations, but many taxi drivers are still not happy and have taken to the streets in protest.
Amid blaring car horns, Alan Ruiz Terol talks to demonstrators calling for a public app to compete with the likes of Uber and catches up with a former Cabify driver with mixed feelings. Yuri Fernández, Uber's spokesperson in Spain, argues that his company and taxi drivers should work together.
Pieter Van Cleynenbreugel, a law professor at the University of Liège in Belgium, tells Cristina Tomàs White the impact the conflict in Barcelona is having at a European level.
Presented by Lorcan Doherty.
Montserrat is a natural wonder, a rocky mountain range that rises from the plains of central Catalonia. It's a holy place, home to La Moreneta, the Virgin of Montserrat, and a Benedictine Abbey with a history stretching back one thousand years. Alan Ruiz Terol visits the Escolania de Montserrat, a 700-year-old boys' choir, and chats to Lorcan Doherty about what makes this place so special, for Catalans and visitors alike.
More than three months on from polling day, Catalonia's new government is taking shape. What can we expect from the incoming administration?
Pere Aragonès has been elected the 132nd president of Catalonia, becoming the first member of Esquerra Republicana (ERC) to head up the executive since the 1930s. He will lead a pro-independence coalition of ERC and Junts per Catalunya, with support from the far-left CUP. Cristina Tomàs White profiles the new president, a meticulous, left-wing politician who can always be seen wearing a suit and tie.
Catalan News deputy editor Guifré Jordan and Marc Sanjaume-Calvet, professor of political science at the Open University of Catalonia, join presenter Lorcan Doherty to discuss the make-up of the new government, its priorities and the challenges ahead.
CatalanNews.com
Pro-independence parties in Scotland and Catalonia have enjoyed success in recent elections, but how much do the movements have in common and where do they go from here?
Lorcan Doherty is joined by Laura Pous, Business and International Editor at the Catalan News Agency (ACN), and Guifré Jordan, Deputy Editor of Catalan News, to compare and contrast the independence campaigns in Catalonia and Scotland.
With contributions from Esquerra Republicana MEP Jordi Solé, Scottish National Party MP Gavin Newlands and University of Glasgow Lecturer in Politics Robert Liñeira.
At midnight on Saturday night, May 8, the state of alarm in force for more than six months comes to an end. From May 9, there's no more curfew, bars and restaurants can open until 11pm and travel in and out of Catalonia is allowed again.
Scarlett Reiners and Cillian Shields join Lorcan Doherty to discuss the latest measures and the Covid situation in hospitals. With restrictions easing and the vaccination campaign stepping up, they look at how summer 2021 and the festival season is shaping up.
Alan Ruiz Terol visits Catalonia's largest mass vaccination site, the Fira de Barcelona exhibition center, capable of administering 20,000 jabs a day.
Cafe culture and eating out are at the heart of the Barcelona lifestyle, but the Catalan capital's bars and restaurants - all 9,000 of them nearly - have had a tough year trying to survive amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Roger Pallarols from the Barcelona Restaurant Association explains why he thinks the measures have been too restrictive and the financial help insufficient.
Alan Ruiz Terol talks to the owners of two of his favorite spots about their struggles – Rafel Jordana of La Bodega d'en Rafel and Mario Pérez Ruiz of 7 Vides bookstore who used to run Pizzes l'Àvia in the Raval neighborhood.
Cristina Tomàs White, Cillian Shields and Lorcan Doherty remember some of the iconic restaurants lost to the pandemic and ask whether the return of tourists to the city will be enough to ease the sector's woes.
Catalonia needs to transition from 20% to 50% renewable energy by 2030 to meet its climate change goals but plans for an offshore floating wind farm in the Gulf of Roses have been met with opposition from environmentalists and businesses reliant on tourism.
Cristina Tomàs White travels to Roses and Empuriabrava to find out what locals think and along with host Lorcan Doherty discusses the pros and cons of the debate, according to Parc Tramuntana project director Sergi Ametller, Sergi Saladié from the University of Rovira i Virgili and environmental activist Raúl Domínguez from IAEDEN-Salvem l'Empordà.
April 23 is one of Catalonia's most important dates of the year, when the country celebrates its patron Sant Jordi (Saint George) in unique style. Love is in the air as people browse street stalls to buy books and roses as gifts for their loved ones.
In this episode of Filling the Sink, writer, publisher and director of the Institut Ramon Llull, Iolanda Batallé Prats, joins Guifré Jordan and Lorcan Doherty to discuss what makes Sant Jordi such a special day and explains how Catalan literature is going from strength to strength as more and more works are published in English translation.
The acclaimed Catalan writer Marta Orriols reads from her novel Learning to Talk to Plants (Aprendre a parlar amb les plantes), winner of the 2018 Omnium Prize for Best Novel, the NoLlegiu Prize, and the Illa dels Llibres Prize for Best Novel of 2018. Excerpt in English read by Scarlett Reiners.
For a comprehensive list of books that have been translated from Catalan into other languages including English, go to Institut Ramon Llull's website.
Sònia Casas from the Barcelona-based history magazine Sàpiens joins Alan Ruiz Terol and Lorcan Doherty to separate fact from fiction when it comes to the story of witch-hunts in Catalonia. As a recent Sàpiens issue dedicated to the subject puts it: They weren't witches, they were women.
Pau Castell, a historian at the University of Barcelona who has dedicated his career to studying witches, talks about his research.
Filling the Sink recreates the seventeenth-century trial of Elisabet Cerdana, which took place in the village of Castellterçol in central Catalonia.
In the space of a generation the religious landscape of Catalonia has changed utterly. The number of atheists, agnostics and non-religious has skyrocketed as the influence of the Catholic Church has waned since the transition to democracy.
At the same time, Catalonia is becoming more religiously diverse, with migration driving the growth of evangelical congregations and Islam.
Dr Mar Griera, the director of ISOR (Research in Sociology of Religion) at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, explains the reasons behind Catalonia's rapid secularization.
Cristina Tomàs White and Cillian Shields join Lorcan Doherty to discuss Catalonia's current religious makeup and look at some of the Easter traditions that are still going strong.
Spain's royal family has been rocked in recent years by wave after wave of scandal and controversy. The former king, Juan Carlos I, fled to the United Arab Emirates last August amidst ongoing corruption investigations.
In this episode of Filling the Sink, Swiss journalist Sylvain Besson describes how he broke the story of how Juan Carlos received 100 million dollars from Saudi Arabia and hid them in Switzerland.
Cristina Tomàs White speaks to Albert Calatrava, one of the writers of The King's Armor (L'Armadura del rei), a book that examines how Spain has protected its scandal-ridden monarchy for the past four decades, turning a blind eye to its sins.
Guifré Jordan and Alan Ruiz Terol join Lorcan Doherty to discuss the rise and fall of the monarchy's popularity, the current crises engulfing the crown, and whether there could be a republic in the future.
And with the crown having the lowest approval rating in Catalonia out of any institution – 1.86 out of 10, according to the Center of Opinion Studies (CEO) – Scarlett Reiners asks the people of Barcelona what they think.
As Catalonia launches its first nanosatellite, science writer and educator Joan Anton Català Amigó joins the Filling the Sink team to talk all things space.
Catalan Digital Policies minister Jordi Puigneró defends the formation of the Catalan Space Agency and explains that it's clearly not "a Catalan Nasa."
Alan Ruiz Terol takes a visit to Montsec Observatory and Astronomical Park in western Catalonia, where the nanosatellite – named Enxaneta – will be controlled from after taking off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
And with Nasa's Mars Perseverance rover toiling away on the red planet, Dr Carolina Arnau Jimenez tells Cristina Tomàs White how the European Space Agency's research at the Autonomous University of Barcelona could pave the way for humans to follow suit in the future.
Presented by Lorcan Doherty.
Exactly twelve months on from the declaration of the state of alarm and first lockdown, a look at what's changed, what's stayed the same and what could happen in the months ahead.
Salvador Macip, a doctor, scientist and writer originally from Catalonia and now based at the University of Leicester gives his view on the vaccine rollout, the new variants, and the easing of measures in Catalonia compared to the UK.
Cillian Shields joins Lorcan Doherty to look at the trends in the current coronavirus figures and discuss the upcoming changes to Covid restrictions from March 15 and at Easter.
Cristina Tomàs White reflects on the social and economic impact of the pandemic.
Ahead of International Women's Day on March 8, a look at the ongoing fight for gender equality and the impact the pandemic has had on women.
Plus, four Catalan women – Núria Obiols Vives, the head of the maritime authority in Tarragona; Helena Guillén Díaz, a livestock farmer in the Pyrenees; Núria Martínez López, a process engineer in the automotive industry; and Montserrat Corominas, a businesswoman in Switzerland – on their experience as women working in sectors traditionally dominated by men.
Laura Pous, Business and International Editor at ACN (the Catalan News Agency), and Cristina Tomàs White, Catalan News journalist, join Lorcan Doherty in Episode 18 of Filling the Sink
Cillian Shields on the medieval wizard Astruc Sacanera. Still talked about 600 years later, he gave his name to a magical street in the city's Gothic Quarter, Carrer d'Estruc.
Maria Jesús Navarro from CultRuta recounts a dark tale of kidnapped children, of blood and bones and the bourgeoisie. Just over one hundred years ago, Catalan society was gripped when a young girl, Teresita Guitart, went missing. It's the story of Enriqueta Martí, The Vampire of Raval.
Scarlett Reiners tells of the curse afflicting one of Barcelona's most iconic buildings, the Liceu. Burned down and bombed over the years, are the many disasters that have befallen the famous opera house the result of upsetting some angry monks?
Presented by Lorcan Doherty.
CatalanNews.com
Music: Vanishing by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4578-vanishing License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
On February 16, the Catalan rapper Pablo Hasel was arrested at the University of Lleida after being sentenced to two years and nine months in jail for two cases of glorifying terrorism and insulting the Spanish crown in his tweets and lyrics.
His arrest has led to widespread protests in cities and towns across Catalonia and Spain, with dozens of arrests and injuries following clashes between demonstrators and police.
Cristina Tomàs White and Natacha Maurin join Lorcan Doherty to discuss Hasel's case, a similar one involving the rapper Valtonyc, and the debate around the boundaries of freedom of expression and Spain's controversial so-called 'gag law.'
The Catalan election is over, but how the extremely fragmented results will translate into the next government is up in the air. Episode 15 of Filling the Sink brings you everything you need to know about the election winners, the biggest losers, and what lies ahead.
Held amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, the Catalan election turnout dropped to a historic 53%, but the stakes couldn’t be higher for the next parliament. While the Socialists won the most votes, they tied with Esquerra in number of seats, and pro-independence parties combined surpassed 50% of the vote for the first time.
Who will lead the next government? Will this be a turning point for the independence movement? And how to explain the stunning rise of the far right, entering parliament for the first time with 11 seats?
Lorcan Doherty puts these questions to Catalan News deputy editor Guifré Jordan and ACN political reporter Gerard Artigas, and Cristina Tomàs White reports on a nail-biting election night.
Barcelona is a global hub for game developers, with Catalonia accounting for more than half of the industry's earnings in Spain.
Anna Guxens, an indie developer on her studio's game – The Pizza Situation – which plays on our worst social media habits. Oscar García Pañella of the University of Barcelona on how gaming principles can be applied in the outside world "to make miserable tasks memorable." Jon Davis, the technical director of one of Catalonia's gaming successes – Socialpoint's Monster Legends – on what drew him to the Barcelona tech scene.
Alan Ruiz Terol joins Lorcan Doherty to reminisce about his past life as a gamer, and discuss the industry's rapid growth and the challenges it faces.
It's election time. After weeks of uncertainty the courts have confirmed that the Catalan election on February 14 will be going ahead. Episode 13 of Filling the Sink has got everything you need to know about the parties, the polls and the permutations.
Will the independence bloc retain a majority in parliament? Will the far right enter the chamber for the first time? Which party will top the polls and what will the next government look like?
Lorcan Doherty puts the questions to Catalan News deputy editor Guifré Jordan and ACN political reporter Gerard Artigas.
And with only 5.3 million entitled to vote in Catalonia, home to around 6.2 million adults, Cristina Tomàs White asks: Who should have a say in a democracy?
Forest fires, floods, rising temperatures and sea levels: Catalonia is vulnerable to climate change.
One year on from the destruction caused by Storm Gloria, Cristina Tomàs White and Cillian Shields join Lorcan Doherty to examine the consequences that extreme weather events are having.
Cristina travels to the Ebre Delta to see how flooding – most recently from Storm Filomena – is affecting both the fragile ecosystem and people's livelihoods.
Cillian reports on the hidden paradise that has emerged where the River Tordera meets the Mediterranean Sea.
Don't know your TIE from you NIE? Or how you can prove residency? Bradley de Abreu from Age in Spain answers questions from British Catalan News readers.
Alan Ruiz Terol on how Catalan businesses are adapting to the new trading relationship with the UK.
With the UK opting against remaining part of the Erasmus exchange programme, Natacha Maurin asks University Pompeu Fabra and Ramon Llull University what the future may hold for British and Catalan students alike.
Presented by Lorcan Doherty.
Leading coronavirus researcher Dr Bonaventura Clotet on why vaccine research can't stop now, the threat of the UK Covid variant, and some of Catalonia's contributions to the global scientific effort.
Cristina Tomàs White on the "day of hope" that saw 89-year-old Josefa Pérez make history by becoming the first person in Catalonia to receive the Pfizer vaccine.
Lorcan Doherty and Natacha Maurin discuss the latest social restrictions in force in Catalonia and look at how the vaccine rollout is going so far.
CatalanNews.com
A preview of what is in store for Catalonia in 2021 and a look back on the last 12 months. Guifré Jordan and Cristina Tomàs White join Lorcan Doherty to discuss the vaccine rollout, the Catalan elections on February 14, and the Covid-19 pandemic and its social and economic consequences.
Who needs Santa Claus? In Catalonia, kids hit a Christmas log with sticks until it poos out presents. And what nativity scene is complete without the traditional figure of a peasant crapping in the corner? It's fair to say that Catalonia has some unusual Christmas traditions. Lorcan Doherty gets the lowdown from Cristina Tomàs White and Guifré Jordan, and Cillian Shields visits the Santa Llúcia Christmas market in this festive edition of Filling the Sink. Bon Nadal!
Visit CatalanNews.com for the latest news in Catalonia.
Have you ever tried to book a table for 7pm at a restaurant in Catalonia? Or gone to do a little bit of shopping in the afternoon, say around 3? Well, you might well have run into a little trouble because Catalonia and Spain don't keep the same hours as the rest of Europe.
Campaigners for timetable reform – reforma horària in Catalan – have long argued that late meal times and long breaks in the middle of the working day are inefficient and unhealthy.
On episode 7 of Filling the Sink, Lorcan Doherty, Natacha Maurin and Guifré Jordan discuss the origins and effects of Catalonia's day-to-day schedule, and whether the curfew in place since October might lead to more permanent changes in people's habits.
For the latest news in Catalonia: CatalanNews.com
Music used: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod [Creative Commons]
Barcelona has a love–hate relationship with tourism, vital for many jobs and businesses but a bane for many residents. And after years of concern about overtourism, the problem has flipped in 2020, with the industry hit hard by a lack of tourists due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Lorcan Doherty is joined by Alan Ruiz Terol and Cillian Shields to discuss the issues, and we hear from two official tourist guides working in the city. Marta Roigé, who set up Pasapas with three friends to provide tours for people who live in Barcelona, takes us on a tour of the Ciutat Vella, or Old Town. Resi Nickl of tour guide association AGUICAT explains the steps she believes need to be taken to ensure a sustainable tourism industry.
For the latest news in Catalonia: CatalanNews.com
FC Barcelona is one of the world's biggest football clubs. To its supporters it's more than a club, 'més que un club'. But what's behind the current malaise, both on and off the pitch? History, culture and politics are all part of the Barça story, as Lorcan Doherty, Cillian Shields and special guest Ernest Macià from Catalunya Ràdio discuss. They look ahead to the election of a new club president and evaluate the reign of the last one, Josep Maria Bartomeu. Alan Ruiz Terol watches a match online with fellow Barça fan – and Messi fanatic – Ida, an Argentine living in Texas.
For the latest news in Catalonia: CatalanNews.com
How to deal with the legacy of the Civil War and the Franco dictatorship? 45 years after the dictator's death and the Pact of Forgetting, the calls to remember are getting louder. Carles Vallejo, tortured by Francoist police, gives his account. Lorcan Doherty is joined by Cristina Tomàs White and Alan Ruiz Terol to discuss the issues, from mass graves and Francoist symbols, to the annulment of crimes and how history is taught in schools.
For the latest news in Catalonia: CatalanNews.com
Music used: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod [Creative Commons]
Filling the Sink is filling its basket with rovellons, camagrocs and trompetes de la mort as we go foraging for mushrooms. Full-time journalist and part-time mushroom hunter Alan Ruiz Terol heads into the woods with his guide Aniol on a quest to find the tastiest, most unusually-named mushrooms in Catalonia. Forager Brian Russell reveals why, unlike most, he's happy to let people know his favorite mushroom picking spots. Cristina Tomàs White and Guifré Jordan join Lorcan Doherty to discuss the rural-urban divide over mushrooms, how to cook them once you've found them, and some more of the weird and wonderful names that the Catalan language has for the various species.
For the latest news in Catalonia: CatalanNews.com
Music used: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod [Creative Commons]
Lorcan Doherty is joined by Natacha Maurin and Cillian Shields to discuss the current Covid-19 situation in Catalonia and to reflect on the last eight months of living with the pandemic.
Enric Álvarez from the BIOCOM research group at UPC (Polytechnic University of Catalonia) shares some of his insights around the latest Covid data, both in Catalonia and across Europe.
For the latest on Covid-19 in Catalonia visit CatalanNews.com
Music used: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod [Creative Commons]
In the red corner, the undisputed champion of autumnal holidays in Catalonia, it’s La Castanyada. And in the blue corner, the challenger. It’s got costumes, it’s got candy, it’s Halloween. Which should be celebrated on October 31 in Catalonia? The debate is on. The coronavirus pandemic means this year's festivities won't be anything like normal, but what does the future hold for these two holidays? Lorcan Doherty, Cristina Tomàs White and Alan Ruiz Terol pull no punches as they look at whether Castanyada and Halloween can happily co-exist, or if one of them is doomed to disappear.
Music used: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/]